Month: August 2010

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Working In This Town

I have lived in this town for 10 yrs – coming 11 yrs this December and when I hear people telling me they have to move away for a job because they can’t find any suitable ones here – I sometimes wonder. You see I also know of many who has airport jobs and jobs at the hospital and they have had been there for ages now and very happy with where they are. So why is it that some cannot find a job or cannot keep a job while others are very happy with theirs? Is it the benefit from a company? or is it just the person? Is it the attitude? or is it the people who owns the business?

In the last 10 yrs – we’ve hired on many people and only a few that came along were good employees. You think you’ve seen all sorts of people – in our 11 yrs in business but not really true – we’ve yet to learn about employers and employees situation here. But I think the attitude of a person is very important don’t you? If i really wanted to keep a job when I was back home – i would put in the extra effort and extra time. Here – where I lived – people just don’t want to do anything extra – they just want to collect their pay check. In my humble opinion – if you want your boss to appreciate you – you have to appreciate your boss and go the extra mile – what do you think?

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EllenWood Park For A BBQ

I have been in this town for 10 yrs to date and this is the first time that PB brought us to Ellenwood Park – yes! you see how adventurous PB is. So you all can start feeling real bad for me now – hahahha!! No food – no traveling – no adventure – and gotta deal with some verrrryyy.. verrrry.. strange people at times. PB’s parents/relatives think that I’m outspoken/blunt – but wait till they meet some of the people we meet and have to deal with.

Thank God for good people like Mr B & his family – they invited us for their son’s birthday – at Ellenwood Park for a BBQ – and if you know me – i heart BBQs. So we had a day of outing and we had beef stew ready for dinner/supper when we get home and I did all my housework on Friday night – and PB went out to get groceries with Chloe while i cook and shower and off we went. Ellenwood Park was great – next summer – we have to come here more often for swimming.

The lake was pretty clean and all – but mannnn.. the toilet !! i heard no plumbing ! bad management on the town or the government here – such a nice lake.

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Insuring Chloe’s Future

As you all know – Chloe and I are very dependent on PB – and I never ask for money from PB except for food and the necessaries – nothing more. I don’t feel a need for money truth be told – i’m pretty contented as long as I can get some food from home. But we have to think for Chloe’s future – in case anything happen to us. So a few weeks ago when PB’s insurance guy was in – we got an insurance quote from him and we decided to buy a policy for Chloe just in case anything were to happen to us. You see – the house is insured and so is the business – so there won’t be any debt left for Chloe – should something happen – but we also want to make sure she don’t have to struggle and if nothing happens – well – she still can have the money – when we are not around anymore – when she turns into an adult.

When we were young, our parents weren’t able to buy bonds or any insurance for us – we pretty much have to fend for ourselves. Therefore, when I had Chloe – I never want her to be left with nothing – when we are gone. The business, the house – whatever that is ours – will go to her when we are not around – we want to insure her future. What about you? what have you done to insure your kids’ future?

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Hanging On To Summer

So how was your summer? summer is almost ending for us here – since the summer camp is over for Chloe and school will be starting in 2 weeks. This summer – we didn’t go anywheres – because we were busy re-vamping the store and even though we didn’t get to go to the city – Chloe got to play almost everyday at the camp and going to her grandparents on Saturdays. So yes – this summer was different – i also did a few things different – like started exercising – started going to cut my hair regularly – going for the infrared sauna – started doing my facials as well. I’m not planning to go to the city now – because it would be too rush for us – plus I know I’d already spend a lot on the hair and facials – that i wouldn’t do – if i had gone to the city – so migrating – being a mom and being an owner by association is by no means living a life of luxury – hahahahah!! we still have to weigh our pros and cons before spending any money. Like the spouse said – we are staying ahead and don’t want to fall back. What about you? do you just spend on your credit cards first and pay later..??

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When I Fall In Love …

A few months ago – I happen to chance upon a childhood friend from 30 yrs ago – on Facebook. At first I wanted to add him onto my Facebook friend list but I stopped myself. Why? I checked out his info and pictures and his wall and he is happily married with 3 children and even though I haven’t seen him for a good 20 yrs – I don’t really know if his wife would like it very much. We were childhood friends and attended the same church together – I left to UK to finish my school and he left for USA to finish his. We kept in contact when we were in school – but I was really busy – trying to juggle work and school work – and usually he wrote more than I – we drifted apart.

When I arrived home to Singapore – he met me at the airport – with his fiancee (now his wife) – i guess to introduce us? And no – i wasn’t in love with him – we went out once ! hhahahah!! and I was only but 18 at that time. He wanted to hold my hands and I said no – hahahah! he was like a friend – more like my mother’s friend kid. My life at that time was pretty simple – i just wanted to finish school and survive but I knew at 18 – he wasn’t the man I wanted to fall in love with. Why? Too old-fashioned – too “chinese” with lots of old fashion ideas – like the wife needs to be able to cook and stay home after having kids – stuff like that.

So why I didn’t wanna connect with him? because I had told him – when i fall in love – it will be forever – and he wasn’t the right guy for me. Why he brought his fiancee to the airport to pick me up – hahahha!! i have no idea. But looking at his wife’s pictures now on his FB – i wonder if his wife is his mother or his wife? yes – she looks really oldddddddd… !! not being mean or anything – but i figured if we did connect – his wife might not like it so much. What do you think?

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Special Boys

Today we went all the way to Briar’s Lake to meet up with Chloe’s cousin from Ottawa. I am glad we went – because PB wasn’t too keen on going – because we had things at home to do – and housework to catch up on – plus he wanted to rest – i’m guessing – since Sunday is the only day – where we don’t have to work. But family is very important to me – I didn’t have cousins to grow up with – not because I didn’t have cousins – but our parents weren’t closed at all – due to hierarchy and who is rich and who isn’t. But over here – it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor – plus I also want Chloe to know her cousins – even though they are so far away – and don’t come often enough and we don’t go and visit either.

I haven’t seen Gabriel for a few years now and Xavier – well – i haven’t seen him at all. But both boys are so intelligent and so enjoyable to be with. I know Chloe had a good time and Renette – the boys’ grandmother is always so hospitable and warm. We had a great time – chatting and just catching up. So what did you do this weekend.

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Moms Going Back To Work

Some had asked me when I am going back to work – now that Chloe is almost 7 yrs old this December and I’ve given some serious thoughts about it. You see all my life I’ve held management jobs, whether I was a management trainee or a business center officer – they are all considered management – whereby i only report to the big boss. My last job a office manager to a Spanish firm was also a management job where i got to travel a lot with my bosses and engineers or the regional director. So you see – when people ask me if i am going back to get a “real” job – i often wonder what there is here for me – to work as.

Don’t get me wrong – I would do any kind of work – when the need arises – but if what I am doing now – makes the same amount of money – why would i need to go out and get a “real” job right? Now if I were home or in different part of the world – maybe things will be different? or if we move to the city? maybe it would be different? I enjoy my time with Chloe and being there for her – I enjoy being able to do what I want – when I want – but not without restriction – since being owner by association to the spouse’s business doesn’t really quite seems to be what people think. And yes – if an opportunity arises – and an offer is placed in front of me – or my ex-bosses called to ask me to go work for them – I would even travel overseas to work – if the pay is right and the remuneration package meets my entire family needs. But for those moms going back to work – I feel the same way you do – all the anxiety of leaving your kids on their own – and having to fit in again – with the younger generation and all the new technology – you have to get use to. But yes – as moms – we all know we can do anything – if we put our mind to it and if you are anything like me and keep yourself up to date – then you are all set. And to moms going back to work – I salute you all – because you are the greatest!

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Monkey See Monkey Do

So yesterday after dinner – as usual – the kid would play on her own while i go do the dishes – but she stopped me because she wanted to show me something – so she said. And like any good parents – we stayed and watched her. So she had this rectangular box and she started putting stuff in it and stuffing them in and knocking it around and closing it up and then pushing a pencil out. And then she turned around and said – “See i’m helping grampie!” “roll eyes” – yes ! the kid was helping her grampie roll cigarettes!

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The Sentimental Child

Summer is almost over for the kids – another few more weeks and they go back to school. Chloe saw her childhood friend once this year – and although she was looking forward to him joining her summer camp – she also kinda hope they would get together sometime. Unfortunately, he didn’t show up at her camp and she kept asking why? we didn’t wanna impose on his parents by calling – obviously – they have good reasons why he wasn’t in camp. So we tried to explain to Chloe that he must be busy or something else came up. Yes, she is quite sentimental and even though we don’t see much of her childhood friend these days – because both his parents are very busy now – with work and home obligations – she still long to play with him.

Anyhow, our sentimental child made some new “best” friends in camp this week – we are very happy and proud of her. Hopefully, with these new friendship – she will go again to camp next year and hopefully our sentimental girl will grow up to be a sensible one – because she doesn’t really pursue the matter about her childhood friend anymore. Being sentimental is good – but being obsessive – now that is a different story eh.

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Tech Savvy Kids

Kids are so smart these days – I wonder where they get their smartness from. A friend of Chloe’s came by the store the other day after reading some desktop computer reviews, for they were thinking of getting a computer for their kids too. So knowing that Chloe has one at home too – they had come by to ask our opinion/s about what to get for theirs.

PC or desktops are quite the common thing at anyone’s home – Chloe had her own computer because we didn’t want to share ours with her. And I’m sure a lot of parents out there too – bring their work home and is understandable. Now what you put inside the computer or how much you want to spend on it – depends on how old your kid is. These day – you can get a computer for less than $400 – but of course, if you have an older kid – who is into gaming or forsee that – then you should plan ahead and get one that is upgradable. The rams and hard-drive also depends on what the kid/s wants to do with their computer – do they watch movies or download music – or do they need a burner for school work. The younger the kid – the less you should spend – and if you were anything like us – we would get a used one or a re-furbished one. Chloe’s computer came with parts that were used – only the computer’s case was new. So there – you have it from a el cheapo mom.