Things kinda stalled and fell still when my sister was admitted to the hospital. More severe than before, warded 3 days. So from last weekend she wasnt well. Then mid-week it got worse for her and got her admitted on Wed. Though she went to see a doc but they didnt admit her on Mon itself. She was discharged on Sat and resting at home until yesterday, Wed. Then she had recovered well enough to go to work on Thur. As per everyone's wishes, we recommend her to tender her resignation and try to rest at home. Dont think her health can continue to hold up with the work stress she had, the travelling, the hours and still having to do water-dialysis for 8 hours. Not enough hours in the day for her. Something gave, her health. Let her rest at home would be better.
Today is the first day my sister resumed her work. So my Mom and I went to get some stuff settled using the grant. We went to close both the POSB and DBS account and transferred the remaining money into an account under my name, which is used to keep his money. That money would be used for further ceremonies and other requests my Dad made in his own 'will'. But that took a long wait at the bank. We just headed to DBS to get both done at the same time. We were lucky in a sense that we were just early enough that there werent any people. Yet the queue swelled after us.
I had slept at 5am, due to crazy sleeping hours. Cos I dozed off in early evening and cant sleep again until the wee hours. So I did ask my Mom to wake me if I cant hear the alarm. She woke me up about 10am and I hopped up to get ready. By 11am we were in Clementi. Hence while waiting, I was zoning out and sleepy and yawning. Super hungry and we ate lunch first before heading to the CDP in Buona Vista, Metropolis.
I had been to the CDP earlier last year due to the privatisation of one share counter. So brought my Mom there based on memory. We took mrt and walked the underground link way which comes up to the Biopolis and Metropolis buildings and walked passed the cafes, restaurants, all eating places at the first floor before we arrived. Again, we had a shorter wait and immediately after us, another queue formed. So transferred the 2 stock counters from my Dad's account, with a service charge to my CDP account. They form the pool of assets that is considered Dad's and will be administered by me (as part of the agreement that all my family members signed for the SG assets allocation). This is to prevent any family disputes over such things. This process will take a month, and I have to wait for their notification letters.
After that, then I would go down to the 3 stock brokerages, to see if I can close my Dad's trading accounts without my Mom and settle some outstanding fees. If this can be done without her, I will do it first. Then left with NTUC cooperative share and also an OCBC account. Once these are done, then officially the SG side of things are all settled, with exception of my Mom making an SG will.
Next week, either Mon or Tue, we are going into JB CitySquare to see if with the SG grant, whether the bank will recognise and allow us to close and withdraw the money or not. If not, then can tell the SG lawyer to advise the Msia lawyer on the steps needed and then we have to go in to meet the Msia lawyer and start the Msia grant process and also do the re-sealing of the SG grant with regards to the schedule of assets. Man, this has been a long process and learning about the legality of estate and wills. I need a bit of time to ponder my own situation before I make a will for myself also. At least after things are settled.
We went to Star Vista and I treated my Mom to cake and tea at Cedele. Their carrot walnut cake is still the best in my opinion. Walked about and I bought a jar of citron jam from the Korean supermarket. I wanted to make my own BaoZhong YuZhi tea. I now have the citron jam and also the BaoZhong tea leaves. Also dont have to pay a bomb to have yuzu tea drink. See if it is nice. Then after tea, my Mom bought a cooking thermometer and we headed home via mrt and bus.
I felt sleepy and thought it was the lack of sleep but I was coughing more, thought it was due to the cold drinks I had but not entirely. Reached home and I sneezed several times. I suspect I was coming down with a bit of cold and told my Mom I would stay in my room so won't infect my sis who had only just recovered. Felt heavy headed and drank a lot of water and fell asleep without the fan. Woke up in sweat but felt better. Drank more, had egg with udon soup and stayed in the room and warned my sis to avoid contact. Also wearing a sleeved instead of sleeveless shirt after bathing. Now more alert but playing it safe. Drinking lots more water and planning to sleep earlier.
Most likely, I will stay home this Friday to recover before heading out on Sat. Think all the worrying, lack of sleep, funny sleeping hours and also the bugs, had taken a toll. Shall rest up. Am super looking forward to the 3hrs of leather making free course. Want to be at 100%.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Sis is sick.
Youngest sister is hospitalised, due to being unwell. A myrid of reasons that caused her to feel unwell and be very sickly, in part due to her condition. So plans to settle the remaining SG grant things will be deferred a bit until she is better and Mom can settled herself down. This is the third day.
Ya so this weekend I will be home-bound so can visit my sister and be around at home when necessary. Also help out, cos we have vegetarian on Sat. Then Sun is the small simple ceremony. Sometimes I am not sure how exactly am I helping out? Except sweeping the floor, lighting the incense, settling the household bills, washing the dishes. Havent done more than that.
On my own front, mostly my sleeping hours went havoc again. Trying to adjust back. Strictly controlling yet failing at times my calories. Havent lost anything besides my Taiwan gains. But arms are getting a bit harder despite the layer of added flab. So will keep those up. Havent done my core for three days. This period of time, I am doing the exercises daily. My walking speed has increased but after a long distance, I feel a jolt of pain / numb-ache in either knees. So improvements except for the weight loss. Will try harder to regulate my sleeping and also eating. Will work on them this weekend. Hope Monday onwards, I can be in a normal daily routine.
Try to get disciplined again, then work on my stuff and employment. Things on my mind. Yet reminding myself to be cheerful and smile more for good luck and stuff. Not worry so much, be grateful and appreciative of the simpler things.
Ya so this weekend I will be home-bound so can visit my sister and be around at home when necessary. Also help out, cos we have vegetarian on Sat. Then Sun is the small simple ceremony. Sometimes I am not sure how exactly am I helping out? Except sweeping the floor, lighting the incense, settling the household bills, washing the dishes. Havent done more than that.
On my own front, mostly my sleeping hours went havoc again. Trying to adjust back. Strictly controlling yet failing at times my calories. Havent lost anything besides my Taiwan gains. But arms are getting a bit harder despite the layer of added flab. So will keep those up. Havent done my core for three days. This period of time, I am doing the exercises daily. My walking speed has increased but after a long distance, I feel a jolt of pain / numb-ache in either knees. So improvements except for the weight loss. Will try harder to regulate my sleeping and also eating. Will work on them this weekend. Hope Monday onwards, I can be in a normal daily routine.
Try to get disciplined again, then work on my stuff and employment. Things on my mind. Yet reminding myself to be cheerful and smile more for good luck and stuff. Not worry so much, be grateful and appreciative of the simpler things.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Family stuff on the SG side will soon come to an end and then the Msia side...
We have just received the Letter of Authority (SG) yesterday, which gives my Mom the legal power to settle my Dad's remaining stuff in SG. This entails me accompanying her to 2-3 banks, CDP, even to the 3 brokerages to close his remaining known accounts, and contacting NTUC regarding the very small holding of co-op shares. Getting the details still fall upon my shoulders, Mom is unable to do that. Luckily the internet is powerful these days and lots of info can be found online. If not, go to their website and get the contact info, then make calls to get details before heading down. Saves on a lot of wasted trips or assumptions but it meant at least I wasnt shy about making such calls unlike my sister. I dont have social phobia at least. All these happening next week. To prepare, I am making all the calls today to enquire and find out about the relevant steps and documents necessary to bring along. Then the final step is to go about them, might take a couple of days to run all-over to the places.
Then for the Malaysian side of things... After the Vesak Day weekend and my Dad's first year and final birth date, small ceremony during the same weekend, I will have to accompany Mom to JB to see if the banks recognise the SG LA before the first meet-up with the Msian lawyer can be arranged. Then let things get started and continue from there. At least 2 trips into JB for that excluding other things. If other steps like having to go to High Court in Malaysia, that would be troublesome. Logistics-wise and also more trips in... See how then. And there is also the matter of my Mom making wills in SG and Msia. Again I see myself ending up accompanying her but when discussions, I would excuse myself to be outside. Am in charge of paying her stuff and keeping an eye on her.
Sigh... It really took so long to get here. And yet in for another round at the Msia side. All these have implications for my job search. I find myself deferring due to all these developments and the fact I have to accompany. The economy isnt doing well and so the unemployment part does worry me. Hope things will get sorted out in the long term. Somehow things will work out eventually. Keeping myself grounded and trying to be happy, work on my diet and exercise daily and for strengthening legs and knees slowly and gradually.
Then for the Malaysian side of things... After the Vesak Day weekend and my Dad's first year and final birth date, small ceremony during the same weekend, I will have to accompany Mom to JB to see if the banks recognise the SG LA before the first meet-up with the Msian lawyer can be arranged. Then let things get started and continue from there. At least 2 trips into JB for that excluding other things. If other steps like having to go to High Court in Malaysia, that would be troublesome. Logistics-wise and also more trips in... See how then. And there is also the matter of my Mom making wills in SG and Msia. Again I see myself ending up accompanying her but when discussions, I would excuse myself to be outside. Am in charge of paying her stuff and keeping an eye on her.
Sigh... It really took so long to get here. And yet in for another round at the Msia side. All these have implications for my job search. I find myself deferring due to all these developments and the fact I have to accompany. The economy isnt doing well and so the unemployment part does worry me. Hope things will get sorted out in the long term. Somehow things will work out eventually. Keeping myself grounded and trying to be happy, work on my diet and exercise daily and for strengthening legs and knees slowly and gradually.
Monday, May 09, 2016
Friday Stereotype hanging out & Expensive living in SG
We had a good time at Quet's place last Friday. To sum it up:
Delicious and cheap food -> Chicken chop n carrots n corn
Branded ice cream -> Cookies and Cream
Copious amount of alcohol poured -> almost halved the Lemoncillo
Gourmet tea self-brewed experiments -> first one with Green Plum & green tea
New free movie(s) -> Zootopia
Luxurious and invigorating massages -> Deep tissue and 5-min one
Good sound system and HDTV
Nice piano playing
and good chatting (scandalous topics at times)
So it was an improvement over the previous week of cleaning her house and getting it ready for house-warming. More fitting the stereo-type of how women should be hanging out together at a pad. The food alone was good enough to warrant a trip down and it was really a much cheaper way to hang out, yet has all the extravagant trimmings and cost a fraction of the price if doing these outside.
_____________________
On this point, I personally feel SG has really become an expensive place to live in. Partly due to my unemployment status, I feel it. Also in part, having gone across the causeway and seeing how much more the equivalent money could get, aka the purchasing power of the money. Having gone for recent trips to Bangkok and Taiwan, the purchasing power of the sgd is admirable. So much more stuff and value for the same buck compared to back in SG. And in part, the rising prices of things in sg. A meal out easily cost close to $20 and up to high $30s. At times higher. The serving portion is small, at times normal but not extravagant. You look at the small cut of meat on the plate and wondered where the price you paid went to? This is not the case in Bangkok and even Taiwan. The portions are bigger, generous amount of ingredients, fresh, and many a times, cost lower or equivalent to normal sg cafe prices, those in the $20 but not easily hitting $30. I feel it is good to earn SGD and spend them abroad. Can see now why so many SGporeans go travel in their holidays and leave. SG has become pricier than some EU countries. Better value to spend it there than here. I wonder if others feel the same way?
Delicious and cheap food -> Chicken chop n carrots n corn
Branded ice cream -> Cookies and Cream
Copious amount of alcohol poured -> almost halved the Lemoncillo
Gourmet tea self-brewed experiments -> first one with Green Plum & green tea
New free movie(s) -> Zootopia
Luxurious and invigorating massages -> Deep tissue and 5-min one
Good sound system and HDTV
Nice piano playing
and good chatting (scandalous topics at times)
So it was an improvement over the previous week of cleaning her house and getting it ready for house-warming. More fitting the stereo-type of how women should be hanging out together at a pad. The food alone was good enough to warrant a trip down and it was really a much cheaper way to hang out, yet has all the extravagant trimmings and cost a fraction of the price if doing these outside.
_____________________
On this point, I personally feel SG has really become an expensive place to live in. Partly due to my unemployment status, I feel it. Also in part, having gone across the causeway and seeing how much more the equivalent money could get, aka the purchasing power of the money. Having gone for recent trips to Bangkok and Taiwan, the purchasing power of the sgd is admirable. So much more stuff and value for the same buck compared to back in SG. And in part, the rising prices of things in sg. A meal out easily cost close to $20 and up to high $30s. At times higher. The serving portion is small, at times normal but not extravagant. You look at the small cut of meat on the plate and wondered where the price you paid went to? This is not the case in Bangkok and even Taiwan. The portions are bigger, generous amount of ingredients, fresh, and many a times, cost lower or equivalent to normal sg cafe prices, those in the $20 but not easily hitting $30. I feel it is good to earn SGD and spend them abroad. Can see now why so many SGporeans go travel in their holidays and leave. SG has become pricier than some EU countries. Better value to spend it there than here. I wonder if others feel the same way?
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Restlessness
After the trip, I have spent a lot of time at home, to rest my right knee, for a week. Then last weekend, my other knee was 'treated' and hence I am home bound more for another week. I still headed out to meet friends about once a week and also headed to JB last week to do banking errand. So it has been 2.5 weeks since I've came back.
Were there things done? Yes I guess but not things that would change the world.
Diet-wise
I started counting and limiting my calories once I came back to SG. I set the daily calories to 1457 range, still above 1200 basic level, and started exercising using weights. While sitting down and watching TV, I would use 1kg weights per hand and started with 4 different exercises (biceps and shoulders) x 50 reps x 4 sets. Then I increased to 7-8 different exercises (biceps, shoulders, and 1 stomach crunches) x 50reps x 4-5 sets for days that I exceeded my daily calorie limit. It helped and I have lost 4kg so far. That meant I was back to my flabby self before Taiwan and there is 14kg more to my ideal weight.
But as my shoulders seemed to have gotten bigger and biceps harder, so I have just switched my exercises to triceps and stomach which are flabby to balance out. So for now it will be 3 triceps and 3 stomach exercise, 50 reps x 4 sets. Stomach is challenging and only did one exercise last night. Will work towards 4 exercises, 4sets. Will take a short while. Mildly aching triceps. Also have to upkeep my calories intake and monitoring. It has gotten easier after a while and my appetite has decreased from the monstrous level back to normal and just normal single servings.
What is the driving force for this commitment? It is for health - my future, lighten the load on knees, and practical sake to get down to my normal wardrobe otherwise I have to spend a lot. So very realistic reasons. 14kg is a long way, home I can make it as quickly as I can with my current limitations.
Friends
Went to Quet's place with Tab to lend a hand and help out to tidy it up before her housewarming for colleagues. I walked slower than usual cos that was the week my other knee was 'fixed up'. We reached before Quet came home and started a bit. Tab did the floor and I wiped down the troublesome kitchen top and washed the sink. Later I swept the toilet floor with the magic kleen. Later Quet came home and while I was in her luxurious massage chair, Tab and Quet started going through her stuff in the bedroom. We went out for dinner, super nice and more affordable chicken cutlet. I must admit the sides - baby carrot is super nice and cutlet too. Wouldnt mind eating it more. My area's western food which I tried the following day sucked so bad that even for someone who isnt picky about food, complains about it, served to show how bad it was.
After we came back, I sat in the kitchen and helped wiped some stuff while Tab helped Quet go over the stuff and sort them into boxes. Folded the plastic bags and made her kitchen cupboard a bit more organized. Took a while but with the combined effort of three, the entire place was clean and tidy and Quet's bedroom is super presentable. Quet was happy that she sent us home in her car. I was grateful cos it was running late then and I was a bit worried about getting home via public transport, the bus connecting part.
We did joke that the stereotype idea would be how 3 women are enjoying music, drinking and partying around in a bachelorette pad on a Friday night. But the reality is cleaning, tidying, drinking a bit Xiao Mi Jiu & milk tea, listening to Ed Sheeren on Spotify. Ironic but that is real life. In a way, it was another memory to add to our classics.
Family
It is confirmed that I will have to go back to Taiwan in the early part of Nov to give thanks at the JiGong temple in AliShan. My mom and youngest sis are going there to pray for health too. My sister and her husband are accompanying. So it would be another 14D12N stay. The dates are auspicious ones chosen especially the day we go to the temple. So last week, I called one airline to check on some requirement about bringing your own medical supply on-board. And also last night helped to find some spots to visit to build the itinerary for the trip when certain things are finalised over the weekend. This has implications for my job search, I am still deciding how to go about it.
Things in Msia seemed to be starting up. On the night just before the trip, I got a long email from my Second Uncle, looked through the documents and replied his email, then during the trip, I tried contacting my Accountant cousin to find that she was unable to answer cos her in-law had passed away. Understandably I gave her the time and place for almost 2 weeks before a call from Muar triggered things. Got income taxes to file and subsequently pay, got to find out from the tax firm and I was the one calling them. Then I contacted my cousin to get an understanding about the legal issue and update with regards to the joint estate. Basically we can proceed with my Dad's LA in Msia, would help their case somewhat. Then we contacted our SG lawyer cos still no news of the final part of the SG LA then want to start with the Msia side. Also it involved my mom making her wills, both for SG and Msia. Next thing I know is tomorrow I am following her to the SG lawyer's office. If the LA is granted, it would entail heading down to banks, stock brokers' office and also the Central Depository for shares. A step at a time and want to set things in motion properly. This also has implications for my job search...
Personal
I have been given some divine advice - like make sure my hair doesnt cover my forehead, hence the change of hair parting. Not to roll my eyes backwards, hence trying to change that, dont do hard sport hence KM package most likely I will let it lapse and also one that seemed to advise some sort of waiting and being happy. That is something harder to do but that doesnt mean I wont work on it. Some changes take longer to effect but being aware and choosing to work on it is a good start. Keep at it over time to see the impact of positive change.
I feel the familiar stirrings of restlessness that came about from joblessness. Somewhat familiar with this feeling cos this would be the third time. This was what spurred me to go forth with my job search. The time when you somewhat know that you have had your 'rest' and lax and days of lazing around, and enough of idle days, when you somewhat feel like being more productive and earning $ for your time and effort. Then being told somewhat wait it out and be happy, I am confused... does everything keep hanging? I can also see one aspect, that allowing this restlessness to influence me to find a job but making me unhappy is not the permanent solution to things. Its a quick-fix and later we are back to this. Giving in to this restlessness might not be the right choice. I am still finding out what would help me in my current state, identifiying factors to try to allay my own fears about unemployment and overall becoming a better, calmer and happier person. It wont be easy but as the saying goes: "Great things dont come easy." Though my life is not great nor would it be. In my own way I do want it to work out.
Were there things done? Yes I guess but not things that would change the world.
Diet-wise
I started counting and limiting my calories once I came back to SG. I set the daily calories to 1457 range, still above 1200 basic level, and started exercising using weights. While sitting down and watching TV, I would use 1kg weights per hand and started with 4 different exercises (biceps and shoulders) x 50 reps x 4 sets. Then I increased to 7-8 different exercises (biceps, shoulders, and 1 stomach crunches) x 50reps x 4-5 sets for days that I exceeded my daily calorie limit. It helped and I have lost 4kg so far. That meant I was back to my flabby self before Taiwan and there is 14kg more to my ideal weight.
But as my shoulders seemed to have gotten bigger and biceps harder, so I have just switched my exercises to triceps and stomach which are flabby to balance out. So for now it will be 3 triceps and 3 stomach exercise, 50 reps x 4 sets. Stomach is challenging and only did one exercise last night. Will work towards 4 exercises, 4sets. Will take a short while. Mildly aching triceps. Also have to upkeep my calories intake and monitoring. It has gotten easier after a while and my appetite has decreased from the monstrous level back to normal and just normal single servings.
What is the driving force for this commitment? It is for health - my future, lighten the load on knees, and practical sake to get down to my normal wardrobe otherwise I have to spend a lot. So very realistic reasons. 14kg is a long way, home I can make it as quickly as I can with my current limitations.
Friends
Went to Quet's place with Tab to lend a hand and help out to tidy it up before her housewarming for colleagues. I walked slower than usual cos that was the week my other knee was 'fixed up'. We reached before Quet came home and started a bit. Tab did the floor and I wiped down the troublesome kitchen top and washed the sink. Later I swept the toilet floor with the magic kleen. Later Quet came home and while I was in her luxurious massage chair, Tab and Quet started going through her stuff in the bedroom. We went out for dinner, super nice and more affordable chicken cutlet. I must admit the sides - baby carrot is super nice and cutlet too. Wouldnt mind eating it more. My area's western food which I tried the following day sucked so bad that even for someone who isnt picky about food, complains about it, served to show how bad it was.
After we came back, I sat in the kitchen and helped wiped some stuff while Tab helped Quet go over the stuff and sort them into boxes. Folded the plastic bags and made her kitchen cupboard a bit more organized. Took a while but with the combined effort of three, the entire place was clean and tidy and Quet's bedroom is super presentable. Quet was happy that she sent us home in her car. I was grateful cos it was running late then and I was a bit worried about getting home via public transport, the bus connecting part.
We did joke that the stereotype idea would be how 3 women are enjoying music, drinking and partying around in a bachelorette pad on a Friday night. But the reality is cleaning, tidying, drinking a bit Xiao Mi Jiu & milk tea, listening to Ed Sheeren on Spotify. Ironic but that is real life. In a way, it was another memory to add to our classics.
Family
It is confirmed that I will have to go back to Taiwan in the early part of Nov to give thanks at the JiGong temple in AliShan. My mom and youngest sis are going there to pray for health too. My sister and her husband are accompanying. So it would be another 14D12N stay. The dates are auspicious ones chosen especially the day we go to the temple. So last week, I called one airline to check on some requirement about bringing your own medical supply on-board. And also last night helped to find some spots to visit to build the itinerary for the trip when certain things are finalised over the weekend. This has implications for my job search, I am still deciding how to go about it.
Things in Msia seemed to be starting up. On the night just before the trip, I got a long email from my Second Uncle, looked through the documents and replied his email, then during the trip, I tried contacting my Accountant cousin to find that she was unable to answer cos her in-law had passed away. Understandably I gave her the time and place for almost 2 weeks before a call from Muar triggered things. Got income taxes to file and subsequently pay, got to find out from the tax firm and I was the one calling them. Then I contacted my cousin to get an understanding about the legal issue and update with regards to the joint estate. Basically we can proceed with my Dad's LA in Msia, would help their case somewhat. Then we contacted our SG lawyer cos still no news of the final part of the SG LA then want to start with the Msia side. Also it involved my mom making her wills, both for SG and Msia. Next thing I know is tomorrow I am following her to the SG lawyer's office. If the LA is granted, it would entail heading down to banks, stock brokers' office and also the Central Depository for shares. A step at a time and want to set things in motion properly. This also has implications for my job search...
Personal
I have been given some divine advice - like make sure my hair doesnt cover my forehead, hence the change of hair parting. Not to roll my eyes backwards, hence trying to change that, dont do hard sport hence KM package most likely I will let it lapse and also one that seemed to advise some sort of waiting and being happy. That is something harder to do but that doesnt mean I wont work on it. Some changes take longer to effect but being aware and choosing to work on it is a good start. Keep at it over time to see the impact of positive change.
I feel the familiar stirrings of restlessness that came about from joblessness. Somewhat familiar with this feeling cos this would be the third time. This was what spurred me to go forth with my job search. The time when you somewhat know that you have had your 'rest' and lax and days of lazing around, and enough of idle days, when you somewhat feel like being more productive and earning $ for your time and effort. Then being told somewhat wait it out and be happy, I am confused... does everything keep hanging? I can also see one aspect, that allowing this restlessness to influence me to find a job but making me unhappy is not the permanent solution to things. Its a quick-fix and later we are back to this. Giving in to this restlessness might not be the right choice. I am still finding out what would help me in my current state, identifiying factors to try to allay my own fears about unemployment and overall becoming a better, calmer and happier person. It wont be easy but as the saying goes: "Great things dont come easy." Though my life is not great nor would it be. In my own way I do want it to work out.
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