this week the nation wept...

Dear Prime Minister,

This week has been a dark week for the nation, with the news of the passing of our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

In all honesty, I never thought that I would be this affected by the demise of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I have never encountered him personally, never really interested in politics, and do not fully know the many policies that he had started. My deepest impression of late Mr Lee would probably be the footage of him shouting 'Merdeka' and another of him shedding tears on the day that Singapore became independent. These are footages we watch every year, on television and in school. But these were only one of the many many many contributions that he made for Singapore throughout his lifetime as a politician.

Yet as I read the articles and watched the videos about him this week, I began to understand late Mr Lee a little more. I am deeply grateful for his contributions that made Singapore what she is today. I could never understand the tumultuous period of nation building, but I am surely grateful for the prosperous and stable nation today. I can walk in the streets early in the morning and late at night, knowing that I can be safe. My husband and I have jobs, have a roof over our heads and are able to provide for our children and parents. We may not be exceedingly wealthy, but we know we are able to provide for our children.

Besides his tremendous contributions and accolades in nation-building, I am also deeply touched by Mr Lee's deep love and devotion for late Mrs Lee. I watched the video on Mrs Lee's funeral again and was once again deeply touched to see Mr Lee kissing Mrs Lee goodbye in 2010. I do not know how to describe in words, but I could sense his sorrow and grief in bidding goodbye to his soul mate and confidant. His love and devotion for Mrs Lee is a virtue that many young people like us need to emulate - to love the woman (man) you marry and to stay together all your life. And I believe with all my heart too, that the structure and environment that Mr and Mrs Lee had created in your family had played an important part in shaping who you and your siblings are today. He had been a good husband and a good father. I thank him for being the role model for us.

This week, my husband and I brought our 2-year-old toddler to pay respect at the Parliament House and pay tribute at 2 of the community tribute sites. We thought it would only be apt for us to bring our little girl along, as she is definitely one of those who has benefited, and will continue to, from the policies made by late Mr Lee. We got her to wave and say goodbye and to send a flying kiss, and she gladly did so. Both my husband and I will ensure that our little girl, and future children in time to come, will learn both Mandarin and English, and learn them well.

This week, many Singaporeans have wept for the loss of our founding father, in private and in public. I, too, have teared many times while reading reports and articles on Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I cannot imagine how much more pain and grief you have to experience as his son. Many times, you had to put up a strong front and hold back your tears because you are the Prime Minister and you had to stay strong before your people. How would we ever know the amount of tears that you have shed and extent of your heartbreak in private? We feel for you, and I think that it is OK even if you are not OK in front of the camera, because this is only normal. Perhaps at the private cremation later, you could be free to express your grief and sorrow as the son of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Parting is never easy. Even though the funeral is over, the sadness and emptiness in our hearts will linger for a while more, perhaps much more longer for you. I pray that God will comfort you and your family and may you find peace and solace in the midst of grief. Please do take good care of yourself and of your health as well.


Yours sincerely,
A Singapore daughter

悼念李光耀 #2

Photo credit: https://sharealcommunicates.wordpress.com/

提起李光耀先生，多数的人会赞他是个有勇有谋的领袖。对我来说，除了是个优秀的领袖，他更是一个对妻子从一而终的好丈夫。2010年，他在妻子的追思会上温柔地献出离别之吻，可以感受到他对妻子的思念和不舍。他爱得很深，所以妻子的离去也伤得他很重。或许，他对妻子的爱是我们现代人应该学习和效仿的。
Many applaud him as the wonderful leader and founding father of the nation. I applaud him as the devoted and loving husband. I am especially touched to see him kissing his wife goodbye during her funeral in 2010. His love for his wife is so deep that it is probably beyond what words can describe. This man, tough as he may look, also has such a tender side. His love for his spouse is probably something we, the younger generation especially, would like to emulate.

悼念李光耀 #1

Because this man gave his life to Singapore, we could enjoy what we have today, and we could have this place which we call our home. He might not have done all things right, but he has done what he deemed as the best at that point. Let us never take the stability and prosperity for granted, and let us always remember this man who gave his all for Singapore. For there can never be another Lee Kuan Yew.

他一生的奉献造就了一个繁荣、安稳的新加坡。所谓“有国才有家”，他建立了国，让我们能够建立我们的家。感谢李光耀先生的贡献，让我能在这里建立我的家，让我能够身为新加坡人而感到自豪。愿您安息。

婚礼不等同于婚姻

从昨天到今天，社交媒体的页面上都是周董与昆凌的婚礼的报道。有的称之为梦幻般的浪漫婚礼，有的称之为文艺爱情电影，羡煞旁人，甜蜜指数破表。
婚礼虽美，但这也只不过是当下的浪漫甜美感觉罢了。完美的婚礼结束后，还需要用心经营婚姻。Wedding is for a day, marriage is forever.
就看看这段婚姻能否长长久久吧。

PJ moves on to pre-nursery!

I've had Parent-Teacher Meetings many times as a teacher. 2 weeks ago, I had my first Parent-Teacher Meeting as a parent. Happy to hear that little PJ is generally a good girl and enjoys playing in school. Also appreciate the photos of her in her personal portfolio.

The portfolio is like her "report book"

Come tomorrow, she will be moving on to the pre-nursery class. And she will wear school uniform too! Feels like it's another first day of school!

Trying on her uniform!

I pray that she will warm up to the teachers quickly, be able to follow the new routines, nap as much as she can, make new friends and enjoy herself in school. Hope she learns to speak soon too!

our little helper!

This little girl likes to kaypoh around whenever we are doing the household chores. So we decided to go with her interest - join in the chores!

This was when we were still staying at my parents' place. There were more ferrying services that she could do.

Then when we shifted, she moved on from keeping the laundry to doing the laundry. 

Now, she helps with vacuuming the floor too. Initially, she was afraid of the noise from the vacuum cleaner and would run away from it. But I guess her curiosity overpowered her fear, so here she is, vacuuming the floor!

Many friends thought she was really a great helper at home, but please, do know that these videos 纯粹做效果而已。She is really just playing. But I do hope that she will continue to keep this helpful spirit and continue to do the household chores forever and ever!

fun day @ Polliwogs

We wanted to bring little PJ for a swim on Christmas Day but the weather was no good. So we quickly googled about indoor playgrounds and decided on Polliwogs at Suntec City. It is still fine to bring little PJ to indoor playgrounds because she still pays the price of a below 2 years old. Priced at $13 for 2 hours, inclusive of the entry of the toddler and 2 adults, I think this very reasonable. So we stayed inside for 2 hours (out of which 40min was spent on lunch) and little PJ had fun with slides! (There were no balls there - PJ's favourites - so she could try out new things!)

LED slide!

WHEEEEE~!

She is rather proficient at climbing up stairs/structures and getting into the slide off position. Good training in school and at the playground below our house.

Then, she decided to try out a new way of sliding off. Haha!

Overall, I think that this trip to Polliwogs was good. Age-appropriate play areas, clean, not too many screaming and crazy kids, and mostly importantly, little PJ had fun.

pattern 多过 badminton!

Little PJ's bed is the pink one and the mattress beside is the one that we would lie on if we were to sleep with her. I found her in these positions on 3 occasions and I really can't help but to snap some photos.

Rotated 180 degrees

Looks like a crime scene huh?

One bed is not enough

This girl, seriously laugh die me.

little PJ goes to Gkidz!

Little PJ has started attending Gkidz on Sundays. (Gkidz is like "sunday school") Currently, I am there with her throughout the sessions, as recommended by the Gkidz leaders. Most of the time, she will be ok playing with the toys  when she arrives. But as soon as the programme starts, she will stick to me like superglue and refuse to sit with other children. I can succeed in pushing her forward only occasionally.

Craft work - crown

Finally got her to stand on her own!

Hello let's be friends.

In Gkidz, little PJ needs to learn to follow instructions and participate in the programme. Of course, she cannot. Not because she doesn't want to, but because she is still transiting in and trying to make sense of what's happening. One thing that she is familiar with though, is the pack-up song that they sing everytime they need to pack up the toys. Because we have been singing this at home too!
After 3 weeks at Gkidz, little PJ has kind of learnt the "fold your arms, cross your legs" instruction. We've tested it out a few times at home and she does fold her arms and cross her legs. Pray that she will do the same at Gkidz too!

I certainly hope that she can fully transit it and I can attend service at the main auditorium soon!

we're going to the zoo zoo zoo

This is little PJ's second trip to the zoo. First time was when she was 9 months old and she spent most of the time in the pram and giving a blur look. Haha.
This time, she saw polar bears, dogs, monkeys, seals, giraffes and penguins.

Of course, not forgetting her favorite water play! (Which she spent most of the time standing at the same position because she was afraid of the water structures...zzZzz)