In Memory of my Ever loving Daddy~

I know I haven't been updating this blog of mine. Many things have happened since my last post.

My previous relationship of many years have become a past now. I stepped into a new job in my life and while I was still trying to really to piece the jigsaw puzzles in my new phase in life...my dearest man in my life left me - My Dad.

 

(Me and my most beloved Lao Dou!)

During of my dance performances...

During one of the CNYs~

My 21st Birthday...

My 24th Birthday~

My 26th Birthday!

My 27th Birthday~

My convo...

Love~

His leaving was totally a sudden and unprepared one. It was indeed traumatizing and that immediate period of time was really excruciating and heart breaking for me. Fortunately I had support from many of my friends and who cared enough to take precious time off their work and life to care for me.

It's almost 6 months since Daddy left me. I'm really fortunate to be blessed with people who loved and cared for me during this period of time. But as much as I tried really hard to move on with my life, every now and then, I still think of him and miss his presence so much. I've always loved him even when he was around and having him leave me was really the last thing I ever want. He really meant so much in my life. He was the only one who can control my temper and he was the only one who truly treated me like his princess.

Never could I have imagined that the Chinese New Year last year would be our last one together. Every CNY, I had him together with my family. He was an awesome chef and reunion dinner was always made perfect by his lovely soup base, his hand made Hakka meatballs and many other delicacies that he would cook us through out the days of CNY. Heading down to Dua Pei (my dad's elder brother) 药材店 to visit them with my Dad and mum every CNY eve before reunion dinner was a memorable part by itself. At reunion dinner at home, we would spend so much time chit chatting and enjoying the awesome spread.

Reunion dinner steamboat!

Daddy's specialty - Hakka Meatball...I will definitely miss...:(

Hand made Ngor Hiong by Dad and Mum~

1st day of CNY, Daddy would cook many dishes so when we wake up, we get to eat well. I remember just the CNY last year, I especially took many pictures of dishes cooked by Daddy. I don't know why I did that. I just felt I should to keep a memory of Daddy's cookings. It was as if I was afraid I might never taste it again.

The "Suan" that Daddy cook every CNY is always the tastiest!

All these dishes I will miss forever~

This year's CNY, while many of the songs and decorations might be popping out in the streets and on television, I tear whenever I think of how different things will be. I really miss having Daddy at home. I miss seeing him walking around the house and I miss calling him on the phone and hearing his voice. I miss waking up every morning and being able to see him and to say goodbye to him before I start my work day. I miss his cooking and I miss how he would finish up my Sunday brunch whenever I can't finish them. I miss how he would always try to show his love and concern whenever I get home grouchy from work. He would cut me fruits and make tea to my room just so to make sure I'm alright whenever I went straight to my room after dinner. And I remember how he hugged me when I felt devastated from my breakup. He loved me enough to send/pick me up whenever I want to go...no matter what time it was. And he would listen to my work happenings every morning when he sends me to work.It didn't matter to him that he had to spend the whole Sunday preparing for dinner just as long as the whole family enjoys dinner whipped up by him. I always loved his cooking...very much.

Today, Mummy went to the market with my uncle and brought a pack of noodles back for me. When I woke up and saw the pack of noodles, it was as though in the past when Mummy and Daddy would buy a pack for me on a Sunday. The same thing was I couldn't finish the pack of Beehoon, but the difference...was I suddenly realized Daddy wasn't around to finish it for me any more.

I find myself sometimes still not accepting the truth fully. Sometimes I would see the car parked outside the house thinking he's home, when in fact, I myself actually parked the car out there earlier on. And sometimes whenever I reach home late, I would still wonder to myself if Daddy is still awake and watching TV at the living room waiting for my return.

This past 1 year has been really torturing for me. And I start to realise how life really can change when one grows up. I'm not young like before...but with Daddy around, I could always feel like a little girl...his Baobei he would call me. But after Daddy left, I start to feel the difference. Trying to be stronger...force myself to pick up driving again so I can send my Mummy to market and work. Try as much as I can to learn cooking so my family can still enjoy food like before when Daddy was around. Learn to take care of myself now that Daddy is no longer around.

I've been trying hard...and amongst all the things I'm trying...nothing can be harder then trying to stop missing Daddy. I wish to dream of him every night I go to bed and I hope to still see him again.  So to my beloved Daddy:

"Daddy...my dearest Man of my life, I really wish you know...you are the best Daddy I could ever wish for. I'm sorry I couldn't succeed earlier in life to let you enjoy your life more. And I know you worry about my love life after seeing all my tears. I promise I will find myself a life partner who will love me just like how u loved me...and treat me like his very own princess just like how u treated me. And I will always miss you...no matter how long down the road I walk...I will always remember you.

Your most beloved baobei
Wendy "

Precious Saturdays

This is not a new story..and I've personally read it several times in the past. But reading it again...just reminds me of how often we take for granted the Saturdays we have. A day we can have for whoever u really wish to spend with..away from work and stress. This Saturday, I am thankful I spent time with my dearest Daddykin. Never assume the next few Saturdays will exist for you...instead, treat every Saturday as the last few u might have. What will you do then? Well...I'll leave it to you to decide after you finish reading the story:

I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom." I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."

He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."

And that's when he began to explain his theory of "a thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3,900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."

"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy."

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and have thrown it away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones …"

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.

"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."

"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.

"Oh, nothing special," I said. "It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

Good night now...and have a great week ahead all!

haPpy Friday steamboat with ex-RBS peeps!

(All of us!!)

Last Friday, I finally met up again with my ex-RBS girls for dinner together! I've been keeping myself really busy at work recently, and fingers crossed, everything's going as planned and I'm really happy with myself so far *beams*

Meeting with the girls always helps me to relax and enjoy myself. The steamboat has been most yummy and it totally satisfied my craving! And not to mention, we all laughed like mad throughout the whole session..LOL! After steamboat, we then had desserts @ Cafe Cartel!

Apart from my work, my life hasn't been the most smooth-sailing throughout the past few weeks. But I'm trying my very best to stay strong and move my life on the rough sea. I thank my family, my friends, my colleagues and my Boss for staying through with me. Most of all...I thank God for staying with me too! :D

Gathering with my fav JC mates!!

This post is also suppose to be up quite some time ago...here's a meetup with my ex-JC besties! *loves*

Location for dinner was at one of my fav eating place now - Mad for Garlic! I ordered my usual favourites of the restaurant - Mushroom Risotto and Garlic Snowing Pizza! *YUMS*

(Bok, Cheok and me! Zhongwei joined only later cos of work~Super miss them all!)




(Above my 2 fav dishes @ Mad for Garlic!)



(Steak on hot plate surrounded by loads of different types of garlic...Not too bad too!)

After dinner, we crossed the road over to the Irish Pub - Durty Nelly's for a drink! Just some usual chit-chatting and updating of each other's life...but totally heart the session! <3!

(love love love them!!!heex)



(Here's a group pic before bok left for movie~)

Gotta find time to meet up with the group again soon...totally miss them! (>.<)

Taiwan Trip Day 5 - Taipei

Indeed this last post of my Taiwan trip has been superly overdue! I know!! Hmm...let's see what I can remember from the pecktures! Pardon me for this post...less words..more pics! =p

(This bun store...one of my fav! there's a long q to it too! can't remb where it was exactly thou..but the buns r super soft and nice!)





(Some of yummy stuff I had!)



(and of cos...final night in Taiwan..how can I miss out Ah Zhing Mian Xian right!??!)

(We also visit Lup Zhi Xiang aka Xiaozhu's shop!!)




(Best of all? I saw him in person and he walked passed me! a peckture with his car! Shuai dai le!!=p)




(Supper - the super big and delicious yakult with aloe bits + yan shu ji!*drools*)



(Tadaaa~ been aiming this for quite some time...and I finally bought it! a cover for my passport! teehee~ *loves*)

K lah..that's about it for my Taiwan trip! I'm so missing Taiwan and really look forward to go back there again! hoping to be back there again during the cold season as well..cos I really love the cold weather there - eat piping hot street food in the cold weather is just SUPERB!! I Love Taiwan!! <3