More pictures drawn by my son

Christmas at Orchard

Every night, there are christmas performance along the hot spot in Orchard Road.


In front of C.K.Tang is one of the hot spot for performance.

Singapore attract people from all over the world to celebrate Christmas here. Our performers also were invited from all over the world, Indonesia, Philiphine, Taiwan, Hawaii, Spain, ...............................................etc,etc.

On Christmas Eve, about 8.30pm to 9pm, after I finished my purchase in Takashimaya, on my way to Orchard MRT, as the passage way between Wisma and the station is too narrow due to construction in progress, people coming and going altogether, it was so crowded that I was practically push forward to the MRT.

This year's Hari Raya Hazi was falled on 22 Dec 07, one of my friend who owned a shop in Lucky Plaza, said, they were unable to come to their shop because the traffic was jamed from Novena to Orchard. Festive session better take MRT than driving when you coming in Town in Singapore.

Happy Birthday, Uncle

Friday is my uncle's birthday. My uncle is a legend in his generation and he is also the Singapore proud. He is the immigrant from Hainan Island to Singapore when he was 10 years old. His father operating a coffee shop. When he earned enough money, he bought a boat to ferry goods from Singapore and Indonesia. I think that is his second fortune. He then invested in property estate in Katong area and 4 three stories building in Beach Road. He built his bungalow in a land used to house 72 families. This bungalow was just sold to Keppel to build condomium few years ago. He was the shipping agencies for other ship owners and set up offices in Taiwan. He built offices in Gudong Province ( He regret he did not built the offices in Hong Kong). He trade raw oil to China. I heard he has bought rubber plantation in Indonesia as well. When he decided to retire from the active businesses, he established his final baby - the seven stories Hotel without any bank financing, it is a debt free hotel. All his children work for him. He is a billant businessman. In his hey day, he was the honourable chairman in St John. His picture was published in the annual magazine for many years.

His advice to me is to be trifty. He said he able to accumulate wealth because he knows how to save. I remember his bungalow roof was leaking in the kitchen and one of the gaint room for many years when we visited him during Chinese New Years.

How many man can do so much in his life time? Answer is less than 1% of the population. He is the one belong to that group.

I respect my uncle, he is my idol. He is friendly and lead a simple life. He doesn't drink, smoke and gambling. He is a great looking man even he already in his 80. I hope he can live many more years, enjoy his fruits of hardwork. I believe it will because his father also live till 100 years old.

Cheers, uncle.

Money Money not enough

In Singapore, one particular business is booming all the time, that is gambling shop where you can buy 4D, Toto and Football betting. I don't have the habbit of betting, although I do hope to strike S$300K to S$500K. However, it will be a big fat dream because I don't invest money in it!

December till January are the months, the financial burden is intense. My girl is sec 3 next year, you know how much is her school text book cost? It works out to be S$245/-. To live in a decent place, we have to contribute conservency charges of S$61/month, property tax S$130/annum, PUB S$200/- average per month, TV licence S$110/annum, Telephone bill of S$85/month, School fee, pocket money for children,housing insurance, Housing installment plan etc etc........

Robbery in Singapore?

Today, our shop came a young lady from UK who works in New Zealand, she has travelled round the world for three consecutive years, and she is only 23! She is staying in Singapore for 2 days. Unfortunately, when she departed from Changi airport, and arrived at Desker Road in Little India, she wanted to go to Embassdor Hotel, she was robbed! The robbery snap her bag which contain S$2000/- and all her credit cards. She reported to the nearby police station, she was grateful to our police, because at the end of the session, the police gave her S$20/- to take a taxi to UK Embassy, so that her mother in UK can send some money to her, and she can collect it from the Embassy.

Singapore supposed to be a safe country, don't know since where, the robbery dare to robbed in the day light. She has travelled to 36 country, and the robbery happened in this "heavenly country"!! Could this robber a foreigner? I hope the police able to catch this robber in due course. Singapore police is very efficient, and Singapore Law is tough, hence, we pride ourself a safe country. We always advice the visitors, "Singapore is safe, you can walk outside at night, it is ok, it is safe even for girls!" I hope we no need to change our "common understanding".

Robbery, please get out of our country!!! Get lost!!

My son is an artist

My son love drawing cartoon. He has been drawing since he was 4 years old. He is eleven year old this year. Recently, he started to use the software, "Paint" to do his drawing on computer. He can sit there and draw for hours. Although some pictures are violence, but I can not denite that he draws very well.

The above 5 picture are his recent work on computer. I hope I won't do any things to kill his talent, and I am happy to see him keep drawing. I am proud of you, son.

Match Making

I am trying to be a match maker for two 38 years old boy and girl.

One evening, I met this 38 years old boy (I considered he is a boy since he is not married yet ), who I know superficially at Orchard MRT station, he was holding a book while he was waiting, he was heading home. This is the first time we chat because we are busy at work every time we met. You know what book he read, he was reading encyciopedia! He was a drop out form the university, science stream. He was staying with his mum in a 5 room point block. He has purchased a 3 room flat at S$185000, the flat was rented out at S$800/-, and he has left S$45000 not clear yet. He used to work and earn about S$3500/month, but it is hard work, so, he change his job, and he is earning less now, about S$2500/- month. He has to pay for maid he hire for his mother, and responsible for the PUB bill and telephone bill at home. I asked him, why don't you get married. He said he was scared because he has many friends who got married, out of 10 couple, 8 were separated or divorced. ( that really sound scarly) He has one childhood friend in courtship for 10 years, when they got married, 6 of the childhood friends joined together to present the couple with a S$1000/- sound system as blessing, you guess what? The marriage only last for 1 year. What a disapointed relationship!

My girl friend is a Malaysian girl, she works in a factory for 18 years, although she didn't even graduated from primary school, but she managed to earn her PR in Singapore. She has acquired the knownledge on hair cutting, facial, and make up. She lost faith in relationship, so she has an empty love life for the past years. She doesn't really like reading.

I am going to match make these 2 people. I am not sure the possibility of successfull rate, becasue this girl hate people who smoke, drink and gamble. I am not sure of the gambling, but I know this man do smoke and drink. He told me, his mother said to others, " If my son don't drink, he already purchase at least 2 private properties." I can imagine, what a waste! Any way, I advice her to be realistic, good man already snap by others, or rather most good man already someone's husband. Unless she want to be alone for the rest of her life?

If the time is right, if the God is blessing, any miracle can happen right. Any way, Singapore need busy body like me to give chance to these thiry something. Will see.

Hair Extension

There is one new hair extension shop opened in Lucky Plaza by two China lady. Their main interest is to sell the extension hair. They also do the hair extension in the shop. Today, I chat with them, whether they teach, which I think they should, because if the hair extension is popular, their business will be booming.

Well, they do teach, you guess how much is the lesson..........S$680/-. They said they have to charge this fee, because all their customer charge at this rate. If they don't charge at this rate, they are consider undercut their customer, and their customers will be angry with them and don't buy stock from them. They have to keep the standard, so that they won't spoil the market.

I thought to let my girl learn the hair extension, but S$680/- ........ too much for me now, forget it.

My proposal

Few days ago, I saw my lady boss recommended one 2 way cake to a customer. She claimed that this series of cosmetics are all made from the natural ingredients, it can be used as a cosmetic and double up as a skin care product. She has oily skin, and she had tried many brand of powder, most products will block the pore, she could feel the uneven surface when she touched the face. This is the only product, after she put on the face, she can feel her smooth surface. She unintentionally disclosed that the supplier has special promotion now, ie if she buys 2 sets of products (16 items), the supplier will give away one set of sample Free of Charge for display. She said she doesn't want to spent thousand over dollars here to keep store.

Today, I gave her a proposal. I said why not I tried to find the money to buy the products, and I will share the profit with her at 70-30. I want to earn at least S$3000/- of profit before I transfer the right back to her. She did not quite agreed with my proposal, instead she offered why not we share the cost half-half and we share the profit half-half. Wow, better, I agreed.

I hope she won't change her mind and I hope that my first investment is a success.

You are boss, so what?

Last Saturday, my friend was kind enough to introduce me to a beauty salon at Far East Plaza to do Mani and Padi for a white lady.

This is the first time I came to the salon. When I entered the room, I naturally tried to look for my friend Susan, who is a masseur there. This is a small salon, there are four beds in a very tight space, with all the facial equipments around, you can imagine how clam this place is. Since everyone there were busy, there wasn't any introduction or orientation. But without any introduction, I immediately recognized who was the boss here.

The assistant was kind enough to take the pail of water for me, this woman said in an unpleasant voice, "Why you help her to take, let her take herself, so that next time she knows where to take the things. (How come she so sure I will come here the second time?)

Before I started to work on the customer, she asked how long have I been in Mani and Padi? I told her, honestly, one year. I can sense that she felt very doubtful of my skill because she told me be careful of what I do. (I think a novice will lost her confidence and become nerves when she speak!) I assured her that I worked on average of 3-4 customers a day. Then she asked me how long do I need to complete the job, I told her, frankly, about 2 hours. She immediately hurry me to finish the job as soon as possible. She claimed that this customer doing mani and padi almost every 2 weeks, so it should not take such a long time.(I felt like asking her to do the job herself!) The fact was, her nail doesn't look like those doing every 2 weeks, because the cuticles and the hard skin in the sole was very thick. Later Susan revealed to me that the manicurist that care for her every 2 weeks is a novice, she probably did not cut the cuticle properly. (You need experience to cut the cuticle properly!)

When I finished the job, the customer was very pleased with the work done. I told the boss she should collect S$20/- more because I have done the treatment for her sole, and the customer has agreed to pay. She looked surprised and asked the customer: "She said you agreed to pay S$70/- !" The customer knob the head and said yes, she said it worth every cent. The lady boss change her tone, I also want to ask her to remove the hard skin next time. (I am not sure I want to be of service to her!)

Then she asked me to hurry to clear my stuff and get out of the small room. While I was keeping my stuff, she raised her voice, "Get out now, I need the room!" (Eventually, I went off without keeping my microscope. What the hell?)

I am a freelance manicurist, it is good to have additional outlet to go. But this type of boss will spoil my happy mood. You think an unhappy person can do beautifull work? This is a service line, we ourself have to have good mood to produce the good work. I don't understand how come her business can be so good if she doesn't understand this. Anyway, luckily she is the first person I encounter so rude to the freelance worker. All other bosses are very kind to me so far.
Thanks God!