In loving memory.

A blog post, dedicated to my dear old Boy who's now running free and happy at the rainbow bridge.

To my beloved Boy.

I missed you, miss you and am still missing you. I can’t really remember the day you came to our family. But I will never forget your sad story.

You were tied outside a police post at Beach Road for almost the entire day. It rained and you were drenched. How dramatic is that? It was like a beautiful ending for the day when you met your two Samaritans; Denise, your godma and Zhen.

I still recalled how frantic and helpless your godma was trying to find you a new home after bringing you to the vet.  She was doing all that she could, giving you a good shave, having your health status checked as you had a stench then. She posted in adoption threads, sms-ed to all friends but it was all in vain. She found you a fosterer but couldn’t leave you there for long as the daily fees weren’t exactly cheap and it wasn’t helping that she was still halfway through her university days. She wasn’t feeling good to let anyone adopt you as you weren’t that young then. You were estimated to be between 8 to 10. Almost a senior and diagnosed with heart mur mur although it wasn’t clinical yet. You were also sadly, left with 4 tooth; which didn’t do you any favour when it comes to charming people with your handsome looks. I may sound crude here but dear Boy, you should know it better.

It took me some courage and consideration after a few days or was it a week? I finally told your Godma that she can put you with me, at no cost, until she manages to get you a good home. Otherwise, I’ll just keep you. I had many reservations then. I had Fluffy. Yes, your dearest Fluffy. I was in a bad state and condition due to personal issues. My fear for your health deterioration was also another concern as we all know, vet fees here are nothing but costly. Also, I always have reservations towards males. Not that I’m lesbian or what but I dislike the markings and spraying of urines on walls and legs of furniture. That being said, you were on diaper, which also means, additional cost for maintenance. Lastly, I’m sorry, I had to admit, I wasn’t charmed by you at all. I took the plunge and there, the rest is history. You came to my house and subsequently, became a family member.

I felt sorry towards Fluffy many times initially as she was terrorized and traumatized by you badly. She was too used to living in her own world and when you came over, she hated your presence like no tomorrow. But it is also because of you, our little timid Fluffy had turn slightly more vocal and braver. You were her shield, her protection, her leader, her companion, and her partner which I eventually pro-claimed you two to be husband and wife.

But before becoming husband and wife, it was for quite a period of time with torture for you and me before we could finally live together in peace. I can never forget how short-tempered you were. You were constantly growling at me many times and yes, you bit me. I still have photo evidence alright! Those blue-blacks you gave me made me felt idiotic. Yes. Why so? Didn’t you know that it’s not right for a dog to bite the hands that feeds you? But then again, after our fights and quarrels, I constantly remind myself of your sad story. I believed that you had a tough time before me. That was probably the reason for your foul temper and not forgetting you were abandoned. I too had to blame for being stubborn enough to fight with you. I’m sorry for that Boy. Thinking back, it was ridiculous with me shouting and yelling my lungs out at you and having you growling and barking at me back. I’m also sorry for laying my hands on you. You were so stubborn, just like me. That is probably why we end up hurting each other. But never once, you had marks left on you while unfairly, I had so many blue-blacks.

Many times, I will smirk at your 4 tooth, calling you “Bo-Gay” harbouring suspicion that you were probably too hard to handle that your tooth got smacked off. Well, that’s animal abuse I know. But hey, there were cases of mad people who killed canines at HDB void deck remember?

There was this particular incident which I could never forget. Remember that morning while I was preparing for work and you stole a piece of the ‘Huat Kuey’ from the altar? I’m sorry for making you lose another tooth. But I really can’t let you go with that. That was for praying and by stealing it, it’s wrong. End up, after an episode of umbrella, dog under the bed, refusing to let go of the ‘huat kuey’, you lose a tooth. I was often amazed by how you did not even cry or whine in pain. You were only filled with anger then. Barking and growling non-stop. It was only when I saw the bloody tooth then we stopped the tussle. You didn’t get the ‘Kuey’ in the end. See? You should have just let go.

There was also a period of time that I had to put you up at Zhen’s place as I was thinking too highly of myself – pet sitting a Jack Russell when I can’t even handle you, not forgetting Fluffy. It was chaotic at home and so I had to send you off to a staycation or perhaps a getaway for you. I heard you were treated very well. You were also well groomed. Boy, I’m not happy here. When I tried to groom you, why do you always attempt to bite me? While over there, you didn’t snap? Not fair Boy. It’s not fair. But it’s okay. I still love you alright. It was just a few days stay; you came back looking happy and good. I can’t help but always wonder why Zhen didn’t take you in. Even now, I still do wonder. I was looking at your staycation pictures last night. Boy, you really look happy and you were a lot fatter too. It made me felt bad. I felt like I never did a good job.

I also can’t remember when, things seems to take a turn. You started becoming less temperamental or was it that I know how to manage it better? I remember those days when I come back home, you would be either be asleep but facing the door or you would be standing in the hall wagging your tail at me. I would run to the kitchen and you would chase after me until one day, you failed to stop in time and went crashing onto the cupboard. You wailed like a chicken waiting to get massacred. I was so worried especially when you screamed after I touched you. You went limping for a good 5 to 10 minutes? I texted your Godma immediately as I was afraid you would break a limp or something. Thank goodness, you regain your ability to walk on fours shortly after. From then on, as much as I enjoyed being chased by you, I refrained from running too near to the cupboards. I was glad nothing happened.

There was also an occasion which I can’t forget. I was lying on my folks’ bed and you couldn’t see me. I heard you panting and running up and down the house. From our bedroom; to the folks’ room; to the master bathroom. You couldn’t see me still and you kept running up and down. I could feel your anxiety. You were worried that you were left alone again Boy? It’s your home. Silly Boy you. You finally panted a sigh of relief when I called out to you. It was all these little ‘cute’ gestures of yours that gave me a different light of you. You are a sweet old Boy who is also a scaredy cat.

Why scaredy cat? You would bark not at thunders but at lightning flashes or camera flashes. When the thunder gets too heavy, you bark at times too. Mom always tell me, you are the evil one and yet afraid of death. That made me wants to laugh at you more but yet, protect you at the same time. That’s probably how we bonded?

You would love to stick around me always. Having your held rested on the computer chair’s rollers or your tail just millimetres away from the wheel. Very sticky but sweet. You wouldn’t leave me alone in the room for too long. Either you would end up scampering up and down the house to look for me or you would just be less than 50 centimetres away from me. You always had your eyes on me. Yes, that’s the right phrase.

The day came when we had to move out of the big hall house to a way smaller flat. I’m sorry to have entertained the thought of giving you up just because we are going to a smaller home. I’m sorry to have left you home alone, in the master bathroom the entire day while moving. I’m sorry that I had almost forgotten you. I’m sorry Boy. You must have been really scared, all alone in darkness. You know, if you had not barked at and followed the foreign workers around the house, I wouldn’t want to keep you in the toilet either. I’m really sorry for the trauma you faced once more that very day. Please forgive me alright?

Finally, we settled in the new small cosy flat. A new territorial ground for you. We had our daily walks. And once, I let loose of your leash and you just went off without me. I feel very much loved when you turned back and realised I wasn’t behind you and you came running back towards me. Thank you Boy. Thank you for coming back.

Not long after moving over, you had a new co-owner. Yes, your ‘papa’. You feared him because he would hit you so hard sometimes. Especially when you attempt to bite again. Perhaps being somewhat of an alpha male, you tend to fear him more while you love coming to me for affection.

I still remember there was once; you were paranoid by a recycling bag. Maybe, you had not seen anything like that before and hence you were so carefully taking small steps towards it, smelling it. And me, coming from behind with no intention to scare you, scared you instead and you came charging at me, and bit me again. That was also when I felt love from your papa. A grown man tearing, just because I was bitten by my dog, and he had failed to ‘protect’ me? I only suffered a bruise, silly papa of yours. And you, silly Boy of ours.

I can’t recall anymore biting incidents after that. Perhaps over time, you began love us more or were you to feel weak and I had not notice it? You would occasionally growl at us when we scold you or punish you. Your biting attempts ceased gradually and I would many times felt that you had change for the better, giving us lots of unconditional love. Like what Godma said, you had gradually stole a spot in my heart without myself realising it and it was never by your looks.

We had outings, brought you for your first swim. Voila! You are a better swimmer than Fluffy! Somehow, many happy occasions seems to pass really fast. You became sticky to your ‘papa’ too. You would also portray cute actions which made my heart melt. Your affection towards Fluffy grew and vice versa. There were occasions I caught you too smelling each other and sticking near to each other. 

Then in May last year, we brought a monster back. Probably, to you, she’s an irritant but she’s a monster to Fluffy. Yes, Boy, I’m talking about Gigi, the crazy girl. I’m sorry to have put you through her terror. We had a picture of you looking happy but in fact, you were probably screaming for help to save you from the terror. Sometimes she would accidentally land on you while you were sleeping and you would chase her till she lay ‘dead’. It was an amusing sight. There were also happy moments where you mistook Gigi’s toys as food and chase after it. When you manage to get the toy, you spit it out shortly. I love it when you play alongside. I love watching you play Boy.

There were also many occasions where you would just sit right in front of the television ‘watching’ it. I had photo evidences too!  You also amazed me with your imaginative digging skills and your superb howling skills. Although sometimes it freaks me out. Your ‘papa’ was sharing with me some incidents which I had forgotten too. The once you attempted to bite him? I think he had accidentally stepped on your feet or something? Where he crashed into the wardrobe and now, yes till now, my wardrobe doors are not in good place? He also said there was once you refused to let me dry you after bathing and you bit him and not letting go? I don’t have recollections of such maybe because; these are your memory with ‘papa’. ‘Papa’ loves you a lot too Boy.   

Remember those days where you had very bad ears? We were sorry to put you through the pain but it for your good. I’m sorry that the daily walks ceased after Gigi came in. It was really exhausting for us as she was really an energy drainer. I know you would not bear grudges against us for not bringing you out. We hope the outings made up for it?  I’m sorry to have put you on diaper throughout your years with me. I know your lil’ bro had suffered a fair bit but I hope you like the Pooh Bear diapers which were way better than the initial ones we used? We are also sorry to have cut your territory smaller and you had to stay in the kitchen most of the time. We did that because Gigi was so active and we had seen her tripping and pouncing on you, it worries us.  You were so laid back; we didn’t want you to be perpetually disturbed by her when we are not around.

Somehow, we didn’t realise since sometime, you were starting to get weaker each day. We put you to sleep in the kitchen as you were constantly getting up in the middle of the night wanting to get out of the room. Otherwise, you would get up and start digging for what we don’t know and never got to know. It was probably tough initially for you to get used to sleeping alone in the kitchen separated from your darling but nevertheless, you got used to it pretty fast.

There were days especially over the weekends where I would sleep late and I would allow you to stay in the room longer than usual. You would probably find comfort in having to sleep near me and your darling Fluffy also will come and sleep next to you. There was also a period of time where the both of you, would just stick to each other very much. I had a few photos of you 2, husband and wife. Especially when it was Valentine’s Day, how sweet, my dear Boy. Yes, that was 14 Feb 2012. About 9 months ago, you were still up and very well.

There was also a period of time where we had to put you to boarding. You weren’t exactly a stranger to boarding. You had done it before with these 2 brothers twice, once by Godma, once by us. Then there was another boarding session you probably love, Aunty Maureen’s place. Remember the good food she cooked for you and Gigi? The biscuits she made for you all as well? Remember the day when you came back and refuse to go up the stairs?

Things started going downhill for you sometime later. We were slow in realising it. You started coughing badly and start having ‘attacks’. We didn’t know what it was. We called it ‘Fainting’ accidents. Brought you to different vets, Dr Tong from AAVC suggested strokes initially but later suspected fits but there was never a conclusion. He even wanted a video of that. It was then; you started having to take medications. And it was also till then; we got to know that you weren’t feeling exactly well to begin with. Your heart was starting to give way.  You started getting picky about your food. Was that a tell-tale sign? Were you trying to tell us that you shouldn’t be eating the normal dry feeds anymore? We didn’t know really how to handle it and Godma had to come along to help ask more questions to understand your condition better. Sorry, your ‘papa’ wasn’t good in English and I often was too distracted to ask questions. Your vet bills were also starting to get hefty. Something which I knew it would come, but seems a little too soon for us. It didn’t come to us that you had to eat only those prescribed wet food as Dr Tong also thought you were only being picky since you started to gobble the normal feeds a few days later. Although he did mention that your heart condition wasn’t really looking on the bright side, being 5 out of 6, 6 being a failed heart.

No too soon later, you started getting bloated. We realised you had difficulty walking and you had ‘water sacs’ on your body. We brought you down only to know that you have to go through the pain of needle pokes to remove excess water. You were scared we knew it, but we can’t let you not remove the water. It pains us to see the 450ml of liquid removed from you. There was blood inside too. Dr Tong was kind enough to allow your future ‘water draining’ sessions to be free of consultation fees.

Less than a month later, you had even bigger sacs. You felt heavier that you can’t really stand. We had to bring you down to drain the fluids. But alas, we weren’t lucky enough. Dr Tong was not around. The other female Doctor attended to you instead. You had more fluids drained out this time. About 500ml or more I guessed. She was screaming that you should not be taking normal feeds anymore. And had to up your medications and added a new medication for you too. Yes Boy, that bottle which you see me holding every Sunday; opening capsule by capsule, dividing into half, pouring into the daily medication box. The $300.00 medication, probably the most expensive medication I bought to date.

The female Doctor gave you liver supplements too. But probably an oversight of us all, we did not bring you down for review as we didn’t have faith in her. She went on to charge us for the ‘water draining’, and your bill that evening went was a beautiful $555.00. Things seem to take a change for the better. We started cooking for you every day. Porridge with carrots and chicken pieces. You seemed elated by this every evening. You would happily prance at our foot when we serve you your dinner with the medication. You would lick it all up, clean. You would start howling after eating. Were you expressing your happiness? I hope you were. We took it as that way too and we were happy to hear your howling and would compare who is a better cook by your howls. You even started barking. Loud ones, just like the past.

We continued to feed you medications, not knowing that it is slowly affecting your kidney. I’m so sorry dear Boy. Until a month plus or so, you started to get sick of the porridge? Or was it also another sign that you aren’t feeling well? There was no more ‘water sacs’, you were no longer heavy, no bloated feet too. Only obvious we saw was as part of the symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure, you getting skinnier. The bones were obvious. ‘Papa’ told me that each time he showers you, he could see your bones.  We tried other ingredients to make you eat. You started to eat a lot lesser.

At times, we fed you normal feeds, you would eat. All we could think of was, you were just being picky. Sorry for not being sensitive enough to pick out those signs, my dear Boy. We changed to macaroni bites with boiled chicken, you finished it entirely. Perhaps it was due to the small portion and you had not really eaten the day before. Subsequently, you started to not eat again. We were really confused. Not too sure what to do. It was only over dinner; a friend reminded me that if a dog doesn’t even want to eat meat, something is seriously wrong.

That was really an awakening call to me.  That night, I came home slightly later than normal, cooked for you. Then I watch your response. I then noticed that you weren’t exactly into the bowl. I pushed the bowl to you, since you smelt it like you’re longing for it. But, you turned away. I took treats for you, you turned away. I opened a new packet, thinking that you got bored of the current one (stupid me right?), you showed no interest at all. That was then, I really began to panic. I asked Aunty Maureen for recipes to try. She suggested mutton. Guessed what, after hearing your symptoms, she rang the red alert. She told me to be prepared for the worst. The last time I heard that was when you were attended to by the female Doctor.

The following day, I decided to get you a can of wet food. Your all time favourite. I went down to your groomer, Uncle Eric’s shop. He too, after hearing your condition, told me to prepare for the worse. Boy Boy, do you know I was really struggling to come to terms with reality? Although I knew it was coming but a part of me wants it to be later. Although I had many times wondered if you would make it to our new home, I didn’t expect you not to make it through 2012. I probably expected you to leave us slightly later.

I went home with the can of recommended wet food. Opened it up and fed you by spoon. The minute you responded to it, I was jumping with joy internally. I was elated. I quickly fed you more. Subsequently added medication to it and you turned away. Thinking that it could be the medication, I tried another bit. You ate a little, and then you stopped. You started to turn away. I was disheartened. I tried again. I even wanted to smack you. Sorry Boy, it was frustrations that came in. I really wanted you to eat. Besides, you had been vomiting for quite a few times already. I googled on your condition and wept when I realized that you were going through the stages and you are reaching the final stage.

That night, you came into the room and you threw up all that you had eaten. I knew this is not right anymore. We decided to let you sleep with us that night. I don’t know if Fluffy was trying to comfort you or she just wanted to sleep on another cushion. She squeezed with you onto that cushion given to you. I also do not know if you were being sweet to her or you were just feeling warm that you let her have the cushion.

You vomited once in the middle of the nigh and another time after ‘papa’ went to work. You also had stools which were sticky and with some spots of blood, and vomited more. I cleaned up the messed and I know you were feeling bad. You gave me that guilty look. Those guilty eyes, which was what I used to see, whenever you pee around the house. But rest assure Boy, I had never blamed you. I knew you weren’t feeling well. You couldn’t control it. 

That was 2 days before you left us. I tried the wet food again that day. And you rejected it by all means. We went down to Uncle Eric’s shop again as we were recommended with a supplement tube, which we could apply onto your tongue. We waited for nearly 1.5 hours? Uncle Eric was not in the shop. We left concluding that we had to quickly bring you to the vet. By then your hind legs was already shaking very badly each time you stand for long periods. With many thanks to your Godma, we manage to get a slot for you with the well known Dr Ly. Remember him? Yes, the one who kept calling you sweetie?

It was Monday; we rushed you down to ARVC. It was drizzling. We waited for quite a while. Dr Ly saw you. He told us, you had a couple of strokes before and your kidneys are failing. I couldn’t quite believe it. He took a look at your medication and said that, probably, you’ll be killed by your kidneys before your heart does. I was lost. I felt like I had played a part in murdering you. But Dr Ly later said that, you need those medication otherwise you would suffer from ascites given your heart condition. Ascites, the condition where you had ‘water sacs’ at your abdomen which made you heavy, causing you to have bloated feet. You can’t exactly go without the medication but it kills your kidney. I’m sorry Boy. I felt horrible then.

As Dr Ly examined you, you made an effort using your head to push his hands not once but twice. I cannot forget that scene. Dr Ly told us, you were telling him to save you. You were feeling nausea as you had urine taste in your mouth. All in all, you were feeling extremely sick. He immediately ordered for a blood test. We saw how badly you shook. The day before you were still struggling to stand up and that night, you hardly were able to. You were trembling in fear. While waiting for the results, Dr Ly told us that you were telling him, you needed our permission. You are dying. He repeated this 3 times. But you can’t bear to leave us yet because you knew we loved you so much. That very moment, my heart literally sank.

I looked at you, I wanted to put you to sleep but I don’t have the courage to say it. Coincidentally, Dr Ly told us that ARVC doesn’t conduct that process. I heaved a sigh of relieve. But that also means, you had to suffer a little more. I was arranged a communication session for me to communicate with you. Dr Ly wanted me to start that very night as you were really at the final stages. Many times I had to swallow saliva really hard. If you know what I mean, that’s totally different from your swallowing of saliva. For you, it means you want to eat whatever you are looking at. Not for me. It was swallowing down the tears that somehow keep creeping up.

You were given a couple of injections and a doomper and then a drip. Dr Ly gave you a good pat before you had your drip. Perhaps you were really telling him how much you loved us that he didn’t even wanted to charge us consultation fees. He even told the staff to ensure that no administration fees will be charge for the drips after that night as you had to go down every day for half a packet of it and he called you a sweet boy.

We took you home that night, with a heavy heart. I put you on the cushion and you hardly moved. You were on fours but somehow, perhaps it was too warmed, you struggled to be on the floor. That night, ‘papa’ had to go work.  I wrapped you up in a towel and lay you on the cushion. You were trembling so badly it really pains me to see you in this shape. I had a feeling that you probably won’t make it past the night.

I sat by you and talked to you. Trying very hard not to shed a tear in case you missed out what I was trying to say. You heard me? I really meant those words. I also posted these messages on facebook because I could express it better there. I gave you full permission to go. Go, leave, run carefree at over at the rainbow bridge. Don’t worry about us. We will never ever blame you for leaving us. I have you a kiss as I probably cried myself to sleep later.

You whined in the middle of the night. I jumped up and realised that you had poo-ed on the towel and miraculously, you were struggling out of the towel to rest elsewhere. I re-settled you down and went back to bed, hardly being able to fall asleep once more. I could hear your nails ticking away against the cold hard floor because you were trembling so badly. I woke up not long after as I had to go work.

I really could not bear to leave you home alone as ‘papa’ was still at work and I had an event at work that day, 4 December 2012. I quickly tried my best to clean you up, fed you some water using the syringe. As I looked at you drink, Boy, my heart sank deeper. I lifted you up to lay on the other side as you had been lying on the same side for too long. I hope I didn’t hurt you in the process. Just before I left for work, I told you to wait for ‘papa’ to come home and told Fluffy to look after you. She was probably scared stiff.

I don’t really know what happened after that. ‘Papa’ called when he got home and told me you were still the same, trembling badly. He went to bed after a tough night of work at about 9.40am, after talking to you. He told me that he had asked you to go sleep. He even asked Fluffy to come over to look at you. He said that you whine a little. Your heartbeat was inconsistently fast. And that was all.

‘Papa’ abruptly woke up at about 11.35am and found you motionless. You stopped trembling. He reached to feel you. Your heart stopped beating. He called me at 11.40am. I saw the phone rang. I knew something was wrong. I was so afraid to pick up that call. Do you know, just about 30 minutes odd or so before the call, you were suddenly running around in my mind? I also had smell of you on my fingers. Did you visit me in the meeting? I was stunned. I picked up the phone, and ‘papa’ broke the news that you had left us. Strangely, I wasn’t really sad as I was kind of expecting it. But, reality slowly sets in, I was lost once again. I didn’t know what to do. What number to call? What to do next?

I called up ARVC to ask about the appointment on the communication session and later inform them that they could cancel it as you had just passed on. I asked them for contacts on what should I do. I requested for the day off. Thankfully, my supervisor let me go instantly. Tears were uncontrollable when I told her you had left. I text your Godma immediately when I got into the car. The whole journey home, I just can’t control the tears. Boy Boy, you really left? I remembered asking ‘papa’ a couple of times if your heart really stopped beating.

When I got home, I went to see you. You were indeed motionless and you were turning hard. Please remember those words I told you. You had been a good boy. You had listened to us. We gave you permission to go and you only had to wait for ‘papa’ to come home. You gave us unconditional love. I kissed you one last time. Bid you goodbye on behalf of Godma. I couldn’t help but kept touching you. I was confused by the selection of cremation services too and I secretly didn’t want to let them bring you away. But I know, it’s impossible.

Initially I wanted a common cremation, thinking that you won’t be lonely. But Godma said it’s better for individual cremation. Thank goodness for her, her willingness to play a part in your life the one last time, we selected Tengoku. Also, we didn’t want to bring back your ashes worrying that I may once more feel hurt each time I looked at it. Godma was still thinking logically that she reminded us if we decided not to want to keep later, we can always scatter them rather than now, and regret later.

The Tengoku staff came back at about near 2pm. We witness him taking you away in the little black box. I was probably too dumbfounded. I signed the papers and let him did the necessary. ‘Papa’ very quickly cleared away the towel and cushion. Washed up your food bowl and kept it. The drinking bowl had been passed to Gigi. I think he didn’t want me to feel anymore sadder. Your cremation service has been scheduled to be at 3.30pm.

We went over to see you for the last time. After pushing you out from the cold room, I couldn’t bear to look at you anymore. ‘Papa’ mentioned that your eyes had blood vessels. I noticed your tooth had blood too. It was unsightly. Not to mention, you had poo-ed before you left and we didn’t realised it at all. Sorry Boy Boy, we had failed to clean you up once last time.

The Tengoku people were very nice and patient. They told us to inform them when we are ready for the process. We didn’t wait any further. Not because we don’t love you Boy. But we don’t want that memory of you in that manner. The place you on the furnace area and gave us a moment to look at you once more. Again, we didn’t really want to. I guessed they were shocked by our fast response in giving the green light to go ahead. Boy Boy, I know you wouldn’t mind that right? I had taken pictures of you when I got home already. The guy quickly pushed you into the furnace and we were brought to their small little office.

‘Papa’ and I discussed a little and then I decided. I wanted to bring you home with us. I chose the white little urn instead of the standard Chinese looking one despite the extra cost. I wanted to give you a nice forever home. Besides, it’s just plain white in colour; it would be easier for me to place you when our future home is ready. You are coming with us to our new place 3 years later! Are you excited? I don’t care; I am bringing you with me. At least, this is my decision for now. I don’t see any reason why I should not.

We went down to ARVC while you were being cremated. We waited for Dr Ly as the nurses told us that we could bring down the medications and maybe they could be refunded since you didn’t get to use. After a long wait, we finally met him. He had heard of your passing and he asked if you had left peacefully. To me, you had. As you left without any sound of pain. Dr Ly said it was good for you. You need not suffer anymore. He asked if I had communicated with you. I told him I did. All he said was good. I thank him sincerely on your behalf too. I think I said thank you more than twice. If it wasn’t for him, we probably had to put you through longer suffering.

I hope the session at ARVC wasn’t too stressful for you Boy Boy. Dr Ly had mentioned that he will make you feel better. I really hope you did. We went back to Tengoku to bring you home. And now, you are home with us, high up on the shelf, with a picture of Mona Lisa by your side. It was a long day. I believed you gave your blessings to ‘papa’ that he managed to get a day’s off from work so that he could catch some sleep for the night. He had been awake since you left and had only rested for 2 hours.

As I come to the end of this long message for you, I hope you love your new forever home. Again, be free and run at the rainbow bridge. Have fun and make lots of friends. Thank you Boy, thank you for your unconditional love that you had given. Thank you for those happy moments that we had shared. We truly love you and you will always have a spot in our hearts.

 

It hurts me still as i read through the entire 'letter'. Occasionally, tears would well up...

Till we meet again my dear Old Boy.

 

 

Zero Impression

As I promised that I would go back and find pictures, it seems like I really totally do no have any pictures at all to share on birthday celebration with baby.

i tracked back timeline on facebook, only to find myself checking in 2nd mini steamboat with the 4-some gang i.e. Kenny, Mojo and Potty to be exact.

Perhaps, we really didn't celebrate? I totally have no impression.

Z.E.R.O.

NIL.

DON'T HAVE.

I only know, my actual day was a Sunday. and i had dinner with them.

prior to that, it was Saturday, I had dinner with the girls and then the meal with the party people.

That's all. Gosh.

am so sorry. :( Sorry to my baby too.

i want to upload pictures of my own to show but my host photobucket seems to have some connectivity issue. Hence, I have to go with what I found on google.

Disclaimer: pictures of items do not belong to me! all taken from google.

1) Gift from the ladies with some Cash surprise in it.

 

 

 

2) Tiffany and Co necklace and Pendant.. from the party people.

 

 

Details here


3) Prada wallet from my baby. <3 p="">

That's all i got! and his present, was a LV wallet...

Well, with that, it marks the closure of November.

 

Next post, shall be a sad one... a one on my beloved Boy....
I miss this boy lots...

Failing Memory

Missing for almost a month!?

Honestly, as per last post, i did mention that I'm going back to check on the pictures of my birthday.

goodness, I don't have any pictures at all!?! I only remembered, my birthday was the weekend. So i had lots of meal gatherings.. in fact not lots. just a few.

had dinner with the inseperable ladies from pri school days @ Uncle Leong (punggol)
had steamboat dinner with the 4-some from sec school days @ 2nd mini steamboat (thomson)
had dinner with the party people at Ichiban Boshi/Sushi @ Novena.

And. I can't remember if baby and I celebrated in any what sense.
i browsed through my phone, my lappy... and I just can't find any pictures!!!
What happened?

my memory failed.

anyway, he was with me for all 3 dinners. SO i guessed, that makes it like having celebrating with me all along? I'm still gonna try to find traces of my birthday. LEt me try...

and i must really stop procastinating on looking through older posts in facebook (it's kinda troublesome).

hopefully i can find something to upload in here... apart from photos of my presents received.
which includes..

1. a prada pink wallet from baby
2. a burberry key pouch from the ladies
3. a tiffany and co. necklace with pendant from the party people

i think nothing else already... haha.

once this chapter closes, i can do an update on the next, before the closure of 2012.

I seriously hope i can finish updating 2012 before end of 2013!!

i still wanna update on 2013 man... it's already Aug!

i will be back!!! promise...

Ciaos.

Flashback. 2012. Part 1.

I'm trying to keep myself slightly organize in my post, trying to recall where did I stop and where should I start from. So about 3-4 posts before, I was at the end of 2011, where we applied for a flat, then I got hospitalized and discharged.

And so. that was the closure of 2011. Time for 2012.

Seems like the entire 2012 just swept by, I really can't remember much things. Let's try to go by months/events. Baby and I celebrated our 2nd year together.

so this time we headed to Bintan. Baby won a free chalet stay during his D&D at one of his company's resort, Nirwana Gardens in Bintan. so, 2 person packed and off we go to Bintan for our 2nd anniversary in a double storey, 3 bedroom bungalow. Creepy it may seems but at least we enjoyed ourselves there. We soiled our white crocs together at the tar-filled beach.

on a lighter note, Lady Gaga was in town and baby agreed to go with me to catch her concert. I'm simply wow-ed by her charisma and her vocal powers. this lady indeed can sing and she's often mis-read by many. she's got so much love to give that I actually became a fan of hers. As i'm typing now, i guess she's still recovering from her injury. Mother Monster, get well soon!

then there came some job opportunitiy knocking which in the end, started me out on the hunt for a new job. I was actually already struggling with the thought of moving out. started off with the remuneration package issue. not really an issue but the thought having an extra bonus actually brings about lots of changes especially when marriage was on our cards next.

to add salt to the wound, lots of unhappiness arised even though I had extra 'helping hands' at work. my effort was overlooked due to past mistake made. not forgetting, the mistake was made when i had to cover 2 person's job single-handedly then and it was a mistake made a year ago. It was really a demoralizing period for me when i learnt that whatever learning opportunities and growth for my job was halted because of that mistake. it didn't help when there was someone constantly making you uncomfortable at work day in and out. Especially when biasness starts in a department and if i'm not the only one reading it, i see no point staying on to fight. I dont wan to and hope i'm not sounding like a soar fella here. it was a mix of both push and pull factor, that i decided to take the leap.

a few opportunities came waving at me and i went for interviews with 3 companies, 1 of them even invited me to a 2nd interview. but i ended up landing myself in my current job which the interview took less than 30 mins and made me felt i had no chance at all! anyway, i took up this opportunity and today, marks the 365th day I'm with this ST. Wow~ time flies?! I still remember how it was like on 23 Jul 2012 when I first stepped foot in.

and so, new company, new job, every start afresh. I'm still adapting here. trying to learn as much as i can. although it's emotionally and mentally stressful in terms of culture and environment. not the best but definitely a challenge.

Baby's maternal grandma passed in late July last yr. she was admitted to the hospital in critical condition about 1 week after I started work. It was a sorrowful event. His maternal family is huge and they value kinship very much. I had only met her once, during CNY and the next time i saw her, she's unconsicious lying in the hospital bed. :(  RIP granny. I'm very much reminded of my late grandma too.

then came baby's birthday in Sep 13. honestly, i can't really remember what we did... i remembered it was a working day. that he didnt applied for leave. neither did I. I was on site-visit that day and i went to grab 2 small cakes to surprise him after work. we had the celebration after his actual birthday or was it before? Brought him to Fullhouse for lunch (it's closed down already. Boos.) then we went to Gardens By the Bay. our virgin trip there. heh. then it was a virgin late night movie at Gold Class Golden Village. Think we caught Resident Evil? See i really can't remember. Birthday gift wise? Erm he gotten it way before his birthday. it was a LV wallet. bought it for him after I accepted the job offer somewhere in June. so that was pretty much it for his birthday.

then for mine... i also gotten my present on the same day we got his. And he got for me a Prada wallet. Pink one! for a change. :) Love it lots. and so... what did we do on my birthday. Hmmm... i too can't remember. Great. I knew i had a dinner out with the girls at Uncle Leong Seafood @ punggol, another session with Kenny, MQ and Jo (a must do)... and what exactly did baby and i did? Hmmm... I think my celebration was not on the actual day but I just can't remember what did we do ... let me go back and look at my pictures. and we will continue with part 2....

Ciaos!!

Muted Meows

Hi guys!

I didn't go missing in case you are wondering. Life at work had been busy. Usually for the first 2 weeks of every new month, that's the case. Esepcially on the month after a quater month.

So what have I been up to? Been kind of busy at work. Have not been really resting over the weekends as well. Started to train a bit on my running speed versus time because I'd signed up for the Yellow Ribbon Run! My first run. Gonna make it more meaningful to myself, hence the training.

Also, I had started volunteering myself at Voices For Animals (VFA) on Sundays. It was my 3rd time there just past Sunday and there was an adoption drive! Weee.. glad to know that there were 15 furries being adopted. I wished I could adopt one too but nah, hubby doesnt allow. Anyway, there's no room for more although I would really love to have Jac Jac... (she such a baby).

Anyway, am gonna post regards to the title, Muted Meows. Have you already gotten any idea what is it? It was all over the headline news couple of weeks back... Got it? No?





Presenting to you... the mouthless Meows~~







Yeah that's what I'm talking about. The whole of SG was in a Kitty Craze 2 weeks back.
Ever since the last Kitty Craze 13 yrs ago... I was still a secondary school student then... 2013 hit another crazy record~ Thanks but no thanks to Mcdonalds.

In fact, initially the kitty craze wasn't that bad when they started with the Wizard of Oz. I remember the crew as still asking if I wanna buy 2/3 days after the first launch date, 30 May 13. I was still telling him that I wanted the Singing Bone and teasing him if he could let me have that instead. That's the only one i like!

So the first kitty was still available island wide after it was launched. The same goes for the 2nd kitty, the little red riding hood I think... But then starting from the 3rd, the frog prince, the kitty craze started warming up... and by the 4th kitty launch (the ugly duckling), people were already queuing for it even before it was launched. Not forgetting, that was the week where SG was hit by bad haze. PSI was about 190+ high that night. Remember I posted about beating the haze for a kitty plush? That's the one.

Then come the 5th Kitty... Initially, I thought I would have a high chance of getting it by going to the drive through on 27 Jun morning to grab breakfast. BUT. Looking at how fast the Ugly duckling went off shelves (within 3 hours from 0000hrs of 20 Jun 13 - thanks to the 24 hours Mcdonalds outlets) I know it's impossible for me to take that option anymore.

Am not a collector of kittys. I wanted the Singing Bone though I've never heard of the fairy tale, because I like it being black! and I thought it was really 'special' compare to the rest of the no big deal kitties. And so, i told my hubby about it and after getting to know about the madness over the 4th kitty, he actually agreed to go with me for the black kitty! I was so happy but worried at the same time. I was thinking of many ways to beat the crazy Q as hubby had to work till 10.45pm on 26 Jun 13.

Ended up, i waited for my dear hubby to finish work, and head to the neighbourhood Mcdonalds together. It was only about 10+ pm, i already saw the facebook trending with posts of people going to queue or already queueing.. and boy, the Qs were extremely long. I was thinking of heading to the drive-thru. but hubby said it might be closed. Anyway, we took the bike there and headed to Avenue 4's outlet. 11.30pm only, the Q was 2 - 3 blocks long. I just Q-ed.

A friend offered me a Q spot, guranteed a kitty at Jurong. Alas, because it was at Jurong West, i didnt agree because hubby probably found it too far. In the end, we regretted like mad. Cause, even before 12midnight, we were told that the kittys were 'sold out' because Mcdonalds gave out coupons. The first 150-200 customers who got the coupon will be able to get the kitty. 1 coupon = 4 kittys.

more than half of the Q didnt' have it. I was still naive enough to think that not everyone will buy 4 kittys, determined to continue Q-ing. After the Q started moving at the stroke of 12, a couple of Mcdondald's manager came out to advise us to stop Q-ing because there's no more kittys left due to the coupons which were all distributed out.

I was literally super upset. I got no kitty. No chance. not even anywhere near to getting a coupon! no kitty and i forgo-ed a chance a Jurong. :( I was also exremely angry with those people who are buying the kitties JUST TO SELL at high prices. Less than an hour from 0000 hrs, I already saw people posting on facebook selling their 'owned' kitties.

Come on!! Shame on you. Look at us people who really just want to buy for collection/keep sake. You took away our kitty to make it ur money making opportunity?! You money-faced people out there. You know who you are... yet you people dare to call the PRCs money-faced. Aren't you doing the same? And you're killing your fellow Singaporeans for that? SHAME ON YOU! Some people are arguing that there's nothing wrong with buying and selling where there are willing parties. But hey, how much difference are these from black market sellers? You're just ripping people off! Imaging those parents who just want to get the kitties for their kids? We even have reports that police were called in due to disputes when q-ing for the kitties. Goodness. EDUCATED SINGAPOREANS, PLEASE STOP SHAMING OURSELVES OUT THERE.

Look at this scenario: a family of 4 goes to Mcdonalds to Q together. So 4 people, 4 kitty coupons, = 16 meals. BUT, remember? only a family of 4. I dont even want to think about what's gonna happen to the food. Do you freaking think they will eat all 16 sets of Mcdonalds at 12 midnite? Do you think they will donate them away? Do you think they will eat Mcdonalds for 3 days? Hell No!! Most of these food just go to the bin. for what, for the kitty?!!?

Lets do some maths...

Lets say a meal cost $7.00, 1 kitty at $4.60. Total cost: $11.60. Round it up, $12.00

Do you know how much they sell a kitty for? From $20 (the first few kitties) to $80 and above for the Singing Bone kitty.

That's like how many times profit???

You tell me that's nothing wrong? That's not a rip off? That plush itself is not even that expensive!

And let me tell you. 10 years down the road, these kitties are going to be found lying in some trash bin or some recylce bags when the family moves out of their home, lying at some void deck. This is Singapore. Tell me, I'm not shameful? I am truely disgusted by how our people behave.

Hubby's friend knew that I wanted this kitty and offered to help us get 1 since his gf was gonna Q for it. Later then he found out his gf wanted to sell us this plush at a high price too! C'mon, you even want to rip off your bf's friend? In the end, hubby bought it from her at $20.00 even though i had protested much. I relented after much thought. Just to pay her for the 3-4 hours of effort she took to Q. Yes, people started Q-ing at 8 plus. MADNESS!!!!  I'm still not very happy about the price of $20.00. I can pay you $12.00 = buy you the meal. Call me a stingy freak or what but I find this totally unaceptable and unethical. Where have the moral values of our people gone to?

I had encoutered the same thing with Jay Chou's concert tickets as well. These evil people hogged the website, causing the website to be unstable. tickets gone in 1 - 2 hours. The real concert goers can't get tickets and then get offered by these black market sellers at prices that are raked up. imagine, you can catch the concert at a near $200 rate. Black market sellers selling a pair at $800+ it's 100% profit!

So I've come to a conclusion. In order to stop such black market sellers, we must BOYCOTT them. We must have the determination to say NO unless the item is let out at the cost price. it is because when there is demand, there is supply. So the next time, these sellers go snatch up all these, nobody buys them, then they are stuck with all these items. They will have no choice but to let out at either cost price or even lower!

I have already told my hubby, never ever support black market sellers. No more next time. I would rather live w/o the kitty. Although it was a very sweet gesture, he knows i wanted it pretty badly.. I know he loves me but still I dont want to add on to the feeding of these black market sellers. Let them rot with what they had snatched from us.

The only way to stop this black market sellers group from growing is to STOP FEEDING them. Think about how ur hard earned money goes to their pocket. Think if it's worth it.

That's all for today!
Ciaos.

Needles, Scans, Machines, Reviews...

Apologies! Was on training for the past 2 days so couldn't log in to blog... Well, after my last post, the haze seemed to have subside. The wind had changed directions and so, we were suddenly, 'haze-less'. Hope this will last!

Yesterday's hot topic was actually about the hail rain in the western region of Singapore. Apart from the hail rain, there was also a 'mini' typhoon! I saw a video of the heavy construction barrier being blown off the ground.. Goodness. It takes extremely strong wind to do so and perhaps that is why it was named 'mini' typhoon. Heard from baby that he could felt the crane 'moved' at certain time when the wind was blowing. It really seemed like a scary weather yesterday noon. Trees were also uprooted.

I was lucky that I'm safe and sound at the training place and think, quite a bit of distance from the very west of Singapore.

Alright, I'm supposed to talk about my medical condition. Yes, you got it right. I have lots of needles poking, scans and time spent on waiting for the doctor to review my condition. but before that... let me walk down the memory lane once more, after I was discharged. Would you like to walk together too? :)

I remembered, was arranged for a CT scan about 1-2 months after I was discharged. My very first scan. In fact, all my subsequent scans are all of the same procedure. Just different place. From the hospital to NNI. Totally hate having to go for scan especially at NNI.

The scan actually requires the nurses to inject some fluids into my veins so that the machine can read my kidney function accordingly. So you see, I have very 'under-defined' veins. This results in what? Nurses always can't find my veins and so they have a problem setting the 'plug'. When they have a problem setting the 'plug', I suffer. I have to endure 2-3 or even 4 rounds of needle pokes at different parts of my hand. Gosh. In particularly, the nurses at NNI. It's painful I can tell you. I once even had a radiographer who set the 'plug' just below my knuckles. Do you know how painful that is?

There was another instance where 2 nurses came to try and non succeeded. and then another one came. All in all it took 3-4 nurses/radiographer/doctors to set one damn 'plug'. They even have to fill a rubber glove with hot water so that they can warm the veins up. And that, actually scalded my hand a little. Perhaps they don't do it all the time and so, they always have difficulty. Whereas, during my first scan at the hospital, it was really done in a swift.

I can still remember that after my 1st scan, I had a follow-up review 1 week later. We don't get to see/know the results on the same day. So, baby followed me back to attend my first review and we both got an unpleasant news. I was told that there is a need for me to go under the knife... i.e. operation/surgery. It sounded small and simple but it wasn't really that small like a day surgery. It actually requires a few hours. So, I guessed, you can call it a major surgery. I still remember that I had specifically left instructions to my doctor not to cut up my dolphin (tattoo) which so happen to be at the spot that he's supposed to operate on.

It was a 'funny' moment when the doc even said that it would be a waste if he cut the dolphin. He found it nice too. Well, so yes, medical/blood tests (done by the hospital nurse with not much pain), financial counselling, etc, were all done. medication to clear my intestines was also prescribed. But just about the week of my scheduled operation, the doctor called me up himself. There was a on-going debate and thus conculede that it's not critical for me to undergo the op yet. Instead, I went for a day surgery. 28 Feb 2012. I went for my first day surgery. Baby went with me and spent hours waiting for me.

Another funny moment during my day surgery. The doctors insisted I took a pregnancy test before the surgery but AFTER I came back from the toilet! ended up, i had to wait for a long time at the operating theatre (OT) area. And the best part was, after like eons when I finally manage to do the test, nobody knows how to read the test kit!!! Lying at the waiting area just outside the OT, hearing nurses scrampling up and down outside asking who can read the kit was really intense! I knew I can't be pregnant but they way the scrample, makes me scared that I thought I would be.

Finally after about an hour plus of wait I was finally pushed in for the Op. by the way, before that, another plug was set by the doctor at 100% ease. Soon, I was asked to breathe from the oxygen mask and before I know it, I was knocked out. I woked up about an hour or lesser? I was still being pushed around (back to the ward). There was a dry pain in my throat and extreme pain in my lower abdomen not forgetting, the GA was taking effect. I wanted to puke though I didn't.

I had a stent inserted into me which was causing part of the pain in my abdomen. The main cause was due to my monthly menses. My throat was dry and painful because they had inserted a breathing tube during the op. And so, I stayed 1 night in the hospital with baby's company. He went home later about 9 plus and was back to fetch me the next day as I could be discharged. I had the stent in me for 1 month before I was scheduled for another day procedure to remove it. I totally wanted to forget the procedure so much. It wasn't pleasant at all. And the stent had made me painful. Sighs.

Anyway, yeap, after the procedure, I was scheduled for scans at NNI and reviews again. So there, the terrifying 'plug-sets' came into place. I always hate the mornings which I have to go for the scans. I have to down myself with water till once I almost threw up water. Then I have to get myself 'poked' a few times because they can't set the 'plug' right. Scans after scans, and reviews after reviews, doctor said my condition was somewhat stablized. And now, I'm on annual scan and review basis. I had my last scan in last Dec and my last review in early Jan. So, my next scan will be in Dec. the bad thing is, inflation, scan fees went up. I'm sure the review fees will go up too.

Im really awaiting and hoping for the doctor to clear me off this condition. He said it was congenital. So there's really no way to improve the condition. Only to prevent it from happening. Keeping my fingers crossed and hope that I can get it clear it off by 2015. My financial advisor is still waiting for me...!

Half a year more to it. wish me some good luck please?

Ciao for now; 2011 officially closed! Back with more updates soon!

Hottest Topic in Town. Haze

Good Hazenoon everyone?

I wanted to talk about my ordeals from my scans and review visits with the hospital but then, I can't not talk about the hottest topic here in Singapore... the unfaze HAZE.

It's been an extremely hazy week. If the stock market behaves in this way, I guess all stock brokers would have made a pile. What am I saying? Yes, it's a good hazy week. Because, the haze just keeps getting thicker.

Everyone's complaining about the haze. Every minute in FB, I have one newsfeed about the haze, the PSI index blah blah. There are even complains that the officials are not doing anything but talk only. I'm not too sure about you. I'm certainly one of those who post on FB as well but to complain that people are complaining for no good reason.

It turns me off that on Wednesday evening, when the haze was going from 290 to 321 (PSI), people are talking about a public holiday that should be issued as it's not safe to travel out of the house. BUT the next morning at 6am, the whole of my FB was fill with photos and status updates of the crazy queue at Mcdonalds for the Hello Kitty Plushie. Can somebody knock some sense into people??
You know the hazard. you call for action to help you prevent the hazard but you went on charging toward the hazard...

A Chinese saying goes: 明知山有虎偏向虎山行

If you think that is horrible enough, there's even more horrendous ones! Those who later post online asking for offers to buy the plush toy they bought at Mcdonalds'! Last I checked, a plush cost $25?!?! Hello, you bought it from Mcdonalds for less than $5 and you are selling it at $25. What can I say? MONEY FACE GRABBER!!!! Especially for those who keep whining about the 'public holiday' the officials had failed to give. Bitch slappers slapping themselves silly.

I'm purely disgusted with such behaviours. Any cure for the humanity?

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with buying the plush and selling it. BUT after complaining about the haze, and all that you're ripping off your fellow people?

Then there's another group of people who can't seem to read and understand english yet can't stop posting senseless comments on FB. What did they post? Officials are deceiving people of the PSI. Have they not read carefully? The word AVERAGE was/has/still being use. And what do these people say/think? Officials purposely lower the readings in the mornings so that we have to go to work. Then report 300 high PSI in the noon when we are already at work. It's a no wonder we get laughed at by Indonesia.

What kind of mentality is this? Don't you have eyes to read/see for yourself? Why do you think officials wanna cheat you to work? When you don't feel like working don't you call in to take leave? Let alone those who also 'cheat' by getting a MC from the doctor? If you don't want to work, call your boss!!! What makes me even more sick is that, people accusing the officials are those who sit inside the office. People who are working outdoors also don't 'cry' this much. HELLO?

I can't say anything else except that I feel extremely SHAMEFUL. People are really pampered/spoilt. They complain and complain. Point fingers, blame others. Where is the sense of self-responsibility? People waiting for companies to issue masks!? Dont need to take care of yourself meh? when things go wrong, blame and finger pointing is the first thing that comes to mind? When officials control on certain things, they say officials trying to squeeze them dry, rip them off. So officials say, there's no hard line for stop work order, people make noise say officials are too 'soft' or must wait until someone dies of the haze then will take action.

Fast Food deliveries have been stopped. Isn't this also a measure taken by the company on its own?
Dont they know what is call depending on business needs? How about those construction sites where there is a completion date promised? What happens to the losses? Who's gonna pay? Where can the companies claim from? Officials? Do you really think Indonesia will care? Who suffers? Economy recession will be next if a full stop work order comes in place cause the stock market will crash.

Some say compulsary stop work order for outdoor workers especially construction workers or at least issue them a mask. How sure are we that they weren't given any masks? Some people just dont really like wearing one. Especially the N95. it can get rather suffocating. What more, we are brought up in a clean and green environment while these workers, come from different parts of the world. What they have been through could be a lot more than what we are facing now that we don't even know! Still, it goes back to knowing your own health and body isn't it?

If there is a stop work order, and only implemented for outdoor workers only. I'm very sure, the office folks will also jump and make noise. So, to do or not to do? What I know, there is no standard answer/solution for what we are facing now. Everyone needs to be responsible for their own actions and health! If you choose to complain for the sake of complaining, you have just welcome more people to laugh at you for being such a cry baby. Thanks for adding on salt to the wound.

I think this post can go on and on. because the outcries are too many. though senseless. I'll rest my case if this doesn't set those who have been complaining for the sake of complaining into thinking.

Meanwhile, take care, keep hydrated everyone. Ciaos!

Owning an asset ... The house.

I stopped blabbering on and on about my medical condition to close off the year 2011. The condition is currently still on review. I was on half-yearly scan and review sessions to now annual scan and review. In case if you are still not too sure what is it, basically i suffered from an acute kidney infection. And I also mentioned, I LOATHE going for the scans.

I'll go into details about the scans and reviews probably in my next post.

As per this post title suggest, I'm talking about owning my own house.

Closest peeps of mine may already know that I have share ownership for my current flat in AMK. Initially,  way before I got attached, even before I moved out of Hougang, i really didn't thought this day would come. I thought I could stay in my little flat with my folks for a good long time (at least 5 years). Alas, fate always changes things. Met my baby not too long after shifting house and lead us to having plans for long term future.

See, the 'norm' for the typical Singapore couples nowadays is that every other couple wants to live on their own after marriage. With HDB filling in the demand to the Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, which takes 3-5 yrs to complete, it's almost impossible to not link flat application to marriage.

That had been the 'proposal' question for quite a fair bit of Singaporean guys. It's no longer the usual "Will you Marry Me?" rather, it's now "Shall we apply a flat together?"

A "yes" to the latter would mean that he's won the heart and hand of his beau. What about us? My baby certainly didn't do so. But it was more like me. With many 'pressure' from colleagues then, flat application was the common question raised to me. Answers like "No plans to marry so soon" will always get rebuted by "You can always apply for the flat first since it takes 3-5 yrs to build right?".

Anyway, after series of the above hounding i decided to check out HDB website and one of it's BTO launches in November 11.

I took the courage and ask my baby the question. Nonono. I didn't 'propose'! I merely asked:

"Baby, how long are we gonna date? Have you really thought about settling down? We've got to start some basic planning somewhere if we are serious about spending our lives together".

I swear that it was never meant to be a proposal. It was an open discussion on our views of the relationship. I even emphasized that I wasn't rushing into marriage. And the answer I got made me felt so much relieved. I'm glad I asked. To cut it short, he definitely wants to settle down with me but he doesn't know where and how to start. Most of his friends are still swinging single/attached but not married yet.

We spent one evening discussing about this and we concluded that we should make an application for the BTO. No proposal. Just applying to try our luck as we heard so many stories of people not being able to get a flat despite it being their first application.

Just looking at the few sites in the launch, we were pretty quick to choose the project we liked - Waterway Ridges. I had the slightest idea about the waterway at the point of application. I didn't know it was going to be popular either! Now, it's an award winning waterway and I'm really happy that I have a flat along it. :)

The Artist Impression of the project


The location map


The site map


There were some units with balconies and some without. Most of the blocks were facing the waterway. And so we decided to get a 4 room unit with balcony (extra space for Gigi) during application, hoping to get a good queue number so that we can pick a unit facing the waterway with balcony!

It was about 3 weeks to 1 month after the application, I received the email from HDB...



Initially I was over the moon then later I got confused. Did or did we not get it?? I couldn't phantom. After asking around, I got it. the queue number versus the number of units available for selectionm so to say, we are going to have a flat of our choice! There were 900+ units of 4-room flats availble between Ridges and Banks.

But there were only 90 over units with balcony (banks had non). So, it was really like a pray hard thing. Luck was on our side, the blocks/units facing the waterway were snapped up real fast be it with or without balcony. We managed to select one with balcony, but not too directly facing the waterway. Higher floor still! Here's a preview of our floorplan with and without (suggested) furnishings:



Looks kinda good to me? And so, yes, we are now semi-owners of our very own love nest(flat still undergoing construction and we've not paid more than 10% of the flat yet)!

It's our 1st official asset. The estimated completion date at the time of application was 2nd quarter of 2016. But now, as last checked, it's 2nd quarter of 2015. Looking forward! :)

Btw, in case you are wondering, I count the car as a liability.

Seems like a lengthy post already. That's about all for now!
Ciaos!

A dreadfully long 3 night stay, so near and yet so far away from home.

Hello there! I'm back!

Well, I hope I can really put effort and time into maintaining my blog for good really. Even though I'm not exactly sure, if I have any active readers out there looking at my blog. Anyway, to start it off, I changed my blog template. Kinda lazy to search for new blogskins and go through all the html editing (I think I've forgotten quite a fair bit). I'll just keep it simple by using whatever's provided by Blogger!

I actually love blogging but then, with the rising trend of social media flaming and viral spread of negative stuff, I have to admit that I do worry at times on the things I'm gonna say/share here.

Anyway, I was reading through the last few posts, I realised I had said I wanted to spay both Fluffy and Gigi. Just a quick update, both are already spayed.

Fluffy had some complications as she was smaller than the usual maltese size and thus, her bill choked up to a good $800++ after discount for I can remember. Dr Kenneth was kind enough to do dental scaling for her at a special price.

Gigi too, went back to Dr Kenneth for spaying and unfortunately, she too had complications that she actually lost quite a bit of blood and I remember, she had to stay overnight at the clinic. Her bill also came up to a good $500++ which was like double the price of a normal spay of her breed. :(

Just my luck then.

Am really trying to recall what happened but seems like I'm really having some kind of difficulties doing so. My timeline is mixed up. I had to look at pictures in my phone to help me recall. I had a medical condition that I got admitted in hospital in November 11 and maybe with that, I can close off 2011 and start talking about 2012 in the next post...?

I can still recall the day and date. 11 November 2011, Friday. i remembered i was having constant on and off pain on my abdominal. I suspected I was having mild UTI. I had my first UTI in 2011 too. The period where I was busiest at work with no extra hands to help me. Work was so busy that I really put off going to the toilet most of the time. Perhaps i wasn't really clear off from UTI that it came back again and the fact that I didn't gave much notice to it, led me into this.

The pain in my abdominal was pretty bad. I still remember I was on the road, in my car, nearing home already. I broke out in goosebumps all over due to the pain. I bore with it, went home and thought I could rest it away. I did laundry still! Took a plum (i still thought i was suffering from constipation as many toilet trips were in vain), hoping i'll be fine afterwards. The pain haunted me from 5pm till 9pm.

I didn't really know how I got through it except for occasionally lying down; taking short rests. I received a call from baby that he'd met an incident at work which resulted him to stop work immediately. I was in the living room folding the done laundry with lots of clothes lying on the sofa. Dozing off on and off. I think it was about near 10pm, when baby came home. I had been stagnent with the pile of laundry. He got shocked to see me lying there with clothes around me half done.

He helped me up to the room, quickly washed up and finished folding the laundry. I guessed he was just as at loss as I was. He didn't know what to do and brought me to the clinic. I was already in such great pain that I could really barely stand up straight, let alone walk. Even breathing was painful.

Made a wasted trip to a 24 hr clinic. Why wasted? for $84+ I saw the doctor for less than 10 mins with no prescription given. Just a memo to the hospital. Baby was still asking which hospital to go. He must have been worried sick that he couldn't really think. I felt so bad that i was in fact tearing otw in the car.

I was immediately put to the see the MO within an hour upon reaching the hospital. A plug was injected. They place me in the observation ward. It was already 12 midnite I guess? But the observation ward seems like a place with no time - it was busy even at that hour. I was already feeling pretty grogy while my poor baby just stood by me with an extremely worried look fixed on his face. I could feel how much he worries for me despite having to work morning shift the following day. My heart melted at the point.

I can't figure out how long I was at the observation ward, till a senior nurse/doctor came back to check on me. She gave me 2 light punches at my back and immediately concluded that I had to be warded. Well, I kinda felt scared for the first time. Baby reminded me to call home to inform my parents while he proceed to endorse on the admission papers. On and off while waiting, I dozed off for 5-10 mins. Everytime i open my eyes, he's looking at me. I can't forget that weary worried look. To think about it now, I actually can feel tears welling up my eyes. What a baby i have.

I was later transferred to a wheelchair and they decided to ward me for a day. I didnt eat the entire evening since lunch. While getting warded, baby went to get a sandwich for me and was later told that it's not advisable for me to eat. It was already 2 or 3 am in the wee hours by then. I had my 'battery running low' phone with me but no charger. I stole a couple of bites before the nurse had to ask baby to leave as I was in a female ward and he can't stay over. The saddest bit of all was, he reached home and only managed to catch an hour plus of sleep only. Tried to call in to get a day off but was rejected and he had to go work with that 2 hours maximum of sleep?

By the time i woke up the next morning, my phone was already going dead. The doctors came by and told me that I had to stay warded for another day. They had to transfer me to the normal ward. I was overwhelmed by mixed emotions. I borrowed a phone from the nurse to call my baby. I didn't wanted to be warded and I don't know why. The minute he answered, I cried. To date, I counldn't explain why still. I cried telling him that I had to be warded. A great relieve for him. He had thought something worse had happened when I cried. Perhaps I was all alone, cut off from all contacts, family, friends because my phone was dead. I wasn't able to get in touch with anyone that I was feeling scared and lonely? Not forgetting baby was at work and I was too worried about him.

It didn't help that the ward transfer was being delayed. I was waiting since 11am till 6pm, as I watch patients getting discharged, I was still sitting at the bed. Staring out the aisle, hoping to catch a familar face to visit me or at least the nurse coming to get me transferred out. Dinner was even served. But I just sat there and wait with no phone to call. Finally, mom came! I was soooo relieved. She had called my bestie, Ping but alas, she was in TW holiday-ing. Which I already knew. Appreciate her for informing the rest of the girls but it was a sad story to relate. All in all, that's another issue. Mom didn't stay for long say about 30 mins? She left and I was alone again. Soon, baby came. I was almost in tears already. And an hour plus after he came, I was then transferred to another ward.

I guess I was the most 'healthy' patient amongst the lot? Baby took me down and we walked around the hospital. The doctor had not seen me yet but I just really couldn't stand sitting around the entire day. The ward had eventually called me up to go back. I was 'scolded' by the nurse later for running around. I even had a thermormeter stick onto my abdomen to monitor my temperature.

There, I was warded over the weekend. I remembered asking the Doctor when can I be discharged. He told me maybe tomorrow (Sunday). And when Sunday came, I was told, no one can discharge me since Doctors are off duty. Meaning I had to wait till Monday!!!  My daily visitor was baby and my parents. Baby even brought me 8 days to help me kill the boredem. Then subsequently, my work laptop as I had outstanding work to be cleared. for that short 2 night stay at the ward, it seemed like i was the only patient who slept according to time but woke up the latest.

I slept a lot during my entire stay. It hurt most every 8 hours when the nurses had to administer me with a new pack of antibiotics. Yes, I was on drip. It was painful when they had to flush out the blood in my veins in order to get the meds flowing in. I was extremely elated when I was told that I could be discharged on Monday, 14 Nov 11. My bestie's birthday. It was also Gigi's birthday! The nurses got worried that no one was able to fetch me upon discharged but I assured them I won't go home on my own. I waited for baby to pick me up after work at starbucks like a delighted kid after finishing up with all the administrative paper work. I had follow ups to go... something which i really loathe.

Although I didn't stay in the hospital for long, I guessed I could see and value friendships from a different perspective after the whole incident. Also, despite catching up on work in the hospital and after discharge (i had 10 days mc). I could also see that the committment wasn't really appreciated.

I was glad I had my colleagues then, to help me iron out the many outstanding issues from the D&D which was just around the corner. I went for the D&D nevertheless. There were people who were really concerned. and there were also people who couldn't care much. That also made me realised a lot of things which I never had really thought about.

And yes, that sort of rounded up 2011 for me. Not forgetting to mention, we tried our luck applying for a flat in later Nov 11. It felt like I was proposing to baby using the 'time-to-get-a-flat' technique. But I wasn't. Maybe I could do a quick post about this next time.

Till then, ciao!

Screen Shots

The mani/pedi saga is here.. a series of screenshots of our entire conversation... I may have accidentally deleted 1 away...



So... the last sceenshot was me telling her that I wont be going for the appointment.
and with that, I wrote a long complaint to the company selling the coupon.

Guess what, I received a call from her that they would like conduct lessons on mani/pedi using the coupons I have. It was a flat down rejection from me. Sorry. Me ain't interested! Can't she see that I needed the mani/pedi? Gosh.

Eventually, I gotten a cheque refund back after rejecting them. The coupon company actually called me to ask which would I prefer after her call. Of course, I chose the money! Not too long later, I heard the place folded. Oh wells. Just as I'd guessed.

So that's the mani/pedi saga for you! Hope it wasn't that boring? I'll be doing some slow updates on my happenings over the 1.75 years.

Ciao for now!

Back to Life... with a BRAND NEW status.

Goodness! It's been almost 2 years since my last post in Sep 2011 and it's Jun 2013 already?! How fast time flies and I wonder if there is anyone out there still reading/following my blog which had been dead? And I only just realised that the even the blogskin picture are gone... time to change a new blog skin.

Tonnes of stuff happened over the 2 years. High and low:

- Applied for a BTO and got it!
- Celebrated our 2nd and 3rd year together.
- Found a new job (already entering 1 yr into the job next month!)
- Caught concerts with love (Gaga's and Jay's both over the 2 years)
- Boy Boy left us (sobs big time)
- Closure of Boiler Room (sad big time)
- Baby's paternal grandma passed on (sobs);

which thus lead us to marriage and honeymoon!

Erm yes, I am MARRIED. GOT HUSBAND ALREADY. I can't really believe it happened still.

And yes, weight loss acheived in 3 months! not forgetting baby's OJT to a crane man. Some photos from my previous posts are missing too due to extreme influx of wedding photos. Now, how and where should I start? I think I can't even remember some other events that'd happened. Guess back to where I had left off would really be better?

Sorry for going missing. I had to admit, I was really lazy to blog about the mani/pedi saga which I had promised. I was also thinking if I should because I had not edited the photos - overwrite the contact number - even though I do not know if it's still in use. But better be safe then sorry.

And now, as I try to edit and upload, due to the lousy connection and limited pc resource power I have, the image editing option works, but the file saving DOES NOT! Damn.

I'll probaby do up a quick one tonight! I'll be back soon!

BACK IN ACTION!!!!???!!!






Good morning!
Yes, i'm back. but period.
Gonna do some update? and maybe if time permits?
or if my mind stays instead of strays, i'll be blogging about
something which i promised i would....



THE MANI/PEDICURE SAGA.




Alright? that's hopefully when my mind doesn't strays away
or when i've sufficient time.


another slightly disorganized update?
the last post, i stop at the P.E.
with an update of my new black big baby.

so what happened after that?
well nothing much?
August ended just as it is.
then comes September.

and speaking of September, i'm not too sure if you have such encounters,
there are always people updating their FB status to:

'Wake me up when September ends'

i feel so DUH. but anyway, that's not the main issue here.
i guess they did that because they had a September like mine before...


I swear September this year is such a 'suay' month.


Why? What happened?

Suay Events:

1. Baby's bike broke down on random night while he was on his way home from work; on the highway - CTE. it was a weekday. i still remember the whole scenario....

I just got home from the usual routine of 'tabao-ing' prata for him when he's having 2nd shift. Just managed to nicely park the car. Gonna check my phone as I received SMS from baby earlier, and he called.

"b, my bike brown down. Can you go to XXX workshop and wait for me there? I've called the tow truck."

that's the whole idea. ya. bike broke down. sighs. on 2nd thoughts, kinda lucky, we have a car now.


2. Fluffy had a bump on her tummmy, right at her umbilical spot. I was touching her, trying to give her the usual sayang... and there! I felt it. Something like a lil' marble ball but not this hard? Bigger than the size of her nipples. I grabbed her, feel it, and looked at it. DAMN. this doesn't look/feel good at all.

The first thought of cancer just came into my mind. I was so lost for words. I asked baby for opinion. We waited for few days in vain, hoping that 'lump' will just disappear on it's own. But it just didn't.


Brought Fluffy to the usual clinic, somehow, the vet seems inexperienced. The old timers were no longer there. Suggested for a surgery. Feeling kinda doubtful, i managed to seek dear nisey's help. Helpful nisey brought me to Mt Pleasant Hospital and recommended me a good doctor. Spaying was suggested instead but spaying together with the removal of the lump instead. I was also given the option to monitor my dear Fluffy for a lil' while more before jumping into booking an appointment for her spaying.

So much comfort after that. Thank you very much Nise! you've been a great friend indeeed!! Nise even came down to AMK to fetch me upon hearing my suay event no. 3.


Anyway, if you would like an update, we are still monitoring Fluffy. Will probably be sending her for spaying next month. Due to suay event no. 3.



3. The suay-est event? 'Cause it was the last to happen within September (crossing my fingers!! 3 more days!)

We heard some werid noises coming out from our black baby. went down to the servicing workshop to check. ALAS. Compressor is dying! Futher driving not recommmended (that explains why Nise had to come all the way to AMK to fetch me). We had to park the car at the car park for 'good'.

Good thing, brother recommended Mark Cool, professionals in car air conditioning to me. Also did a quick check with Dion Daddy for alternatives as Mark Cool is at Woodlands... and baby and I do not have a single good matching day/time off together to get it done. Mark Cool recommended again.

The choice was fixed, took time off from work, many thanks to my dear boss. went down of course driving... and there. Verdict: compressor is totally Crispy to the max. We were given a choice of using a 2nd hand compressor or a brand new one. but we were also reminded that a 2nd hand compressor may only last up to 2 good years... and we have already decided that we are gonna stick with our black baby at least 3 years if not to its death... so a new compressor it is.


for driving folks, i'm sure you're pretty aware how costly a compressor can be. there are people out there who were asking questions like:

'Eh u never check your car when you buy meh?'

'y so rash buy car see lar now spoil'


but excuse me, from my best of knowledge, compressors are like our body joints.
they WEAR and TEAR.
it doesn't mean that my car is in poor condition.
Even Nise had changed her compressor before despite her's as a brand new car which she only drove for a few years.
so please. it's just my luck that it's 'tearing' after we taking over for a month.


so there you go. my series of suay events in September.



but of course, there are also happy events!!!
prior to September, we had Ricky's birthday celebration.
Dinner was at my favourite place.....


KIM GARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





of course i didn't have all 4 cups of soup.
i'm very 'AUTOMATIC'. i just had 1. :)
thanks Ricky!

then there was this particular weekday where we decided to buy a new toy for Gigi
cos her first toy was already spoil.
they say corgis destroy. u'll get what i mean later.

we had dinner at Asian Kitchen or something? at Nex.

something which i adore...



Lu Rou Fan

the portion was quite small. and i'm still missing the on at Ruyi.
I note that the had an outlet at Heeren. So... i'm gonna make my way there someday for SURE!!

we order a roasted 'platter' as well...



just some roast meat and roasted duck.

baby had a bowl of rice with that.

the roasted stuff was of course not bad. BUT. a lil' over pricey.
it's a restuarant. what do you expect?

well, anyway, we got a toy for gigi and she's really happy with it...



but in less than 3 weeks? or was it 2? the toy is once again. spoilt.
don't believe? See it for yourself....











blue fried bee hoon already. -.-



another must share happy event, was baby's birthday!!!
prior to his birthday, he had a lil' pre-birthday present... or so, i call it.







and his birthday present?





yes, it's official, the iPad 2 is his.

Eve of his birthday, we went prawning... and met his cat.
who sat on my chair...




upon reaching home, it's like 3am? in case you are wondering, yes i did say Happy Birthday to him at the stroke of 12. at the prawning farm.

and his birthday, we acted like tourist again...
we went for Singapore Duck Tours and Flyer!


There was a 'pose and shoot' area before you enter the Flyer which we both didn't know... and we jus anyhow pose lor.
turns out they will change the backdrop for you into 6 different ones for you to choose from! of course they will sell it to you after that...
so nice!!
we bought 1.








we went 'shopping' for a new work bag for him and a iPad bag for him after dinner.
headed to Chinese Garden as his birthday happen to fall on the same day as Mid-Autumn Fest! and we realise that entry is like $12 pax each, so expensive btw. and we didn't have enough cash on hand. so we jammed in the car park and headed home.
i guess that was when our suay events started...



Anyway, that's about it for September.
Just last weekend, Grace and Da-shu invited me to join them for the Pek Kio CC Youth BGM at Scape. there was gaming session at Playnation and food served as well.
Went for it with the support from my current fellow colleagues.
YAY.

i don't have pictures of us gaming or at the gaming area though.
i only got the pictures of our food.
there's a reason for that.
Potty, took the Orchid and place in each of our plates. leaving her's out. -.-


Mine


Elson's


Betsy's


who else but Potty...

We sure did had a wonderful time there... lots of laughter too.
went home at about 7pm while they went for movie and H&M.
y home? i had to feed Gigi and also, watch my dear favourite Gino on tv.
i haven seen him for so long. i missed him so dearly.
just like my fb post, 20 plus minutes is NOT enough.

i watch the video 3 times till date and i think i'm gonna try record it down.

went for World Animal Day with baby and Gigi on the past sunday at ECP.
met up with many corgi owners!!
Yay gigi has new friends.... i'm so happy...
but on another note, gigi is like a mature puppy now....
gonna get her spayed in Nov....





signing off here... times does not really permits me for the SAGA.
i promise. Next post. shall be it.
STAY TUNED!!!!