Love-Singapore

We are Singapore!

We are Singapore!

We will stand together hear the lion roar!

R-O-A-R!!!

One of my favourite season of the year, the love-singapore season.
It's especially delightful this year with the long weekend in stored. =)

The long love-singapore weekend started with a bang at the indoor stadium on Friday.
Day of His Power, when Christians gathered to give thanks and pray for the country, not taking the peace and harmony and development for granted.
I left the stadium with a greater burden and a bigger passion for the country.

Day 2 of love-singapore weekend, i met up with Jus for my uber belated birthday lunch.
Exactly two months! Well, at least we didn't give up meeting. =)
However, i was exasperated with the closure of Dorothy Perkins and Topshop at PP. I couldn't understand why when their businesses were flourishing!
Anyway, we had a fun time sourcing for baby shower gifts, laughing ourselves silly over our own random comments. Haha.
The lazy afternoon ended with ice chocolate and dessert at the chichi Dome.
So nice... =)

It's 9th of August!! The nation's birthday on day 3 of love-singapore weekend!
For the first time (i think), we recited the pledge during service before a national flag! How cool was that!
Persi and i coordinated our colours the night before.
Not Indonesia hor!
Later in the evening, the CG gathered at Alvin and Nat's place for a NDP get-together!
Seriously, it was so much more interesting and engaging to watch NDP as a group and i reckon, it was because there were simply too many things to comment on and to..hmm...make fun of. Heh.
Check out our dinner spread!

Unfortunately, i had to end my night earlier, all thanks to the splitting headache that made me nauseous.
I threw up all the pizza and fried chicken i consumed earlier. What a waste.

On the last day of the love-singapore weekend, i made a trip to Jer's parents' home at Tampines.
They have just returned from a one-month visitation with their beloved son in Korea, with the main objective to meet the in-law to discuss about the wedding.
Being an old family friend of Jer, Aunty has kindly volunteered to bring back some food for my skin! She was so sweet to call me one day before her departure to ask me to tell Jer my shopping list. Jer....it's time that you learn from your mum lor! Kekeke...
And tada...
The house seemed to be under a minor renovation with painters around and household items stacked up. They were having lunch when i turned up and in order not to intrude, i stood near the door, suggesting that i won't stay long.
After ransacking in some rooms, they finally found the bag of stuff in the glass cabinet next to me. Ok here comes the funny part. I found the receipt in the bag as Jer mentioned and it stated 42,600 won. Hence i asked Aunty for the conversion to SGD.
"Just pay that in SGD lor!" she said.
I was confused.
After clarification, she meant that i pay SGD42.60. Fwah!
I passed her a $50 bill and asked her to keep it but she insisted on returning me $10.
So yeah...i paid $40 for the bag of skin food. I is pai seh.
And before i left, she had to comment that i "越来越美". Aiyohh.... i is pai seh again.
For a moment, i wished Jer was there.
He has flew to Berlin the day before for work and will only be back end of the month.
The six-hour time difference is making me feel that he is so far away!
I'm gonna miss him badly. =(

I proceeded to baby Chloe's one-month celebration at Holland Village after meeting up with Persi.

As usual, the baby seemed so comfortable resting in my arms.
She's such a doll. =)

That marks the end of the long love-singapore weekend.
Quoting Joyce's tweet, the comfort is the short(er) week ahead! =)

Singapore Budget 2009

It was the day when most Singaporeans are waiting for - the announcement that determines how Singaporeans are going to spend in the year 2009.
Before today, there were news about tapping into the national reserves and polls were even put up to seek the public's view on this decision.
I must say that the comments of some individuals were really skeptical and i almost joined in the debate out of impulse. Later thought it was quite nonsensical.

You should have heard it by now about the S$20.5 billion Resilience Package with the bulk that went towards preserving jobs, ensuring people are still earning an income.
As one without financial background and absolutely zero forecasting ability, i was totally convinced and supportive of this move.
Knowing that the country is undergoing the worst ever economic crisis since independence, i couldn't think of a better plan to keep the country and its people going.
Setting up the Jobs Credit scheme to give employers a 12% cash grant on the first $2500 earned by each employee on the CPF payroll, was really something that impressed me.
This equates to giving money to your employer so that they can (continue to) pay you and keep you employed.
It was stated in the speech that the government did consider lowering the employer CPF contribution rate which was executed some years back.
For a person who empties her CPF every month for her housing loan, i'll be the first to be hit if it was materialized. It would meant that i might have to top up with cash instead.
I give thanks for that.
Not forgetting the increment of the CPF grant from $30k to $40k for first-time home owners. It'll be a good year to get married! =)
In addition with the many other schemes that were put in place to help in the labour force.

With the massive amount of money pumped in, i'm glad to be under the government who has its people at heart.
You may think that the doubling of the GST credits and the 20% rebate on your income tax is negligible and they serve minimal help to your personal needs.
Then how much is considered a big help?
How about receiving monthly pension and 100% waiver of income tax and be a loafer for the rest of your life?
Consider a migration then.

Well, the fact is, nobody would want to be in this difficult time if they have a choice.
But since we are in it, we have to brace ourselves through the crisis, putting aside our self-centredness and viewing things holistically.
Truthfully speaking, we are considered very blessed to be living in this country. So blessed that we could be even be over-pampered.
Amplifying our rights when the government doesn't give and complaining when we weren't given enough.
Sounds familiar huh.

Heard of the spirit of CONTENTMENT?

Be thankful.