This was the biggest renovation project since moving to this house for more than 15 years!
Our study room was always my biggest headache when packing was concerned. As our family members multiplied and grew up, their things naturally increased along with them. The situation was so bad that it did not make much difference despite whatever effort and time incurred to pack the room.
Study room before renovation
I finally decided that we should just bite the bullet and do a major overhaul to this room. Thus, I contacted an interior design cum constructor company which i saw on the TV and engaged their service after agreeing to a design which they proposed.
The renovation did not take long to complete, the exact work was just a few days. However, what was horrifying was the preparation and post-renovation packing process. Despite throwing tons of rubbish away, we still had piles of books and things which we had accumulated over the years. It was a pretty amazing scene when we temporarily parked our things at mama and papa place and realised how much things we had!
Preparation for renovation, Packing
Room almost cleared for renovation
Stuffs stored at parent's place
The overall outcome of the renovation was more than satisfactory, I was very happy that the room was now neat and tidy and best of all, removed from my constant trouble and failure in packing this room.
Inevitably as the kids grew up, parting and reunion occurred more frequently. Our family gathered at Ben’s place for a combination of both, a farewell of Xintong and a reunion with Misaki coming from Japan. It was a brief few hours gathering, nevertheless an important opportunity to cultivate family value and enhance our bonding.
On 17-Jul-17, our courageous Dor gave birth for the third time within 5 years to our latest family additional! This time finally a boy, Sollarus! Welcome Sollarus, we love you!
Over the weekends, the family went for two OUE events for some quick fun and collect some easy OUE vouchers. These were the simple things we do as a family. :-)
Just before Dor goes to delivery her third child, the family get together to watch the fireworks for a NDP preview again at OUE building. Another opportunity to capture some firework photography.
Although I had enjoyed photography and had been doing it for a while, no one was ever brave enough to engage me as their sole photographer during their big wedding day.
I had a small break through this year when Ee Lynn, a GSK colleague and also a Soka friend invited me to be her wedding photographer on 01-Jul! Despite me reminding her that I was not a professional photographer, she kindly insisted my assistance and thus, came my first experience during an wedding event.
Ee Lynn and Wei Jian wedding was relatively simple, fetching the bride, a tea ceremony and a Soka rite. Without the wedding dinner, a little stress was offloaded from me as flash photography maybe something which I was not confident with.
Nevertheless, it was still a good 8 hours event but effort was paid off when I felt there were several good shots taken which was also reaffirmed by Ee Lynn and family.
When they held their wedding dinner in Malaysia later in July, a video was also made for the event which featured many of the photos.
Compared to Ally, I do not have as many chance to take photos of Thea due to business travel. As things settle down a bit after April, I start to pick up my camera to shoot again. Thea is a a little different to Ally, she is very cool and does not smile as much. Maybe she is still cautious and shy to my 'robot', and hopefully it will get natural to her soon.
While Shin Yang and Qi were enjoying themselves in Korea, we also went to a new place to enjoy ourselves, the Sembawang hot spring. First time here, we were amazed by the endless flow of hot spring water coming out from the tap, indeed a rare scene in Singapore. It was also good that the government kept this place free and accessible to public who like to come here for a quick hot spring dip.
