Qiqi's PSLE result released : Nov-10

It has been more than a month of waiting and finally D day arrived.  25th Nov 2010 was the day Qiqi received her PSLE results.  A moment anxious to many in the family...

Since young, Qiqi has always been a happy-go-lucky gal, however, there were rare occasions where she demonstrated great confidence.  After her PSLE, from some sources unknown, she demonstrated a level of confidence so amusing and enormously great -she wants to enter Raffles Girls School and join their rhythmic gymnastics!  She kept repeating this wish as if she has already been accepted by the school.  Shin Yang and myself were pleasantly amused or rather entertained by this gal.  With her preliminary results, Maths(C), Chinese(A), Science (B) and English (B), we constantly scratched our heads and tried to comprehend her rationale for saying that.  We have only one conclusion - this girl was simply overly-optimistic!

From the moment her PSLE examination ended, Qiqi certainly has been very relaxed, watching TV, practicing her stretching, playing computer games, doing art and craft... not a single sign of worry was revealed.  She was like a bird, released and feeling it's freedom from the cage.  It was only the day before the results when she displayed a little anxiety and started to request Shin Yang and Xuan not to accompany her to school the next day.  I laughed, suddenly her confidence burst like a bubble. I teased her and suggested some neighborhood schools for her 'contingency' plan.

On the actual day, I was unable to be there for her (too busy at work)... We tapped on to technology, Shin Yang emailed me instantly from her iPhone, updating me every details.  Alas, Qiqi got her results... all As!  Definitely a leap of improvement for her, yet just above average.. :-)

Nevertheless, we were glad with the results... well at least personally, my hours of accompanying her studying were not wasted.  Of course, results were not everything... it was the process! the journey of hard-work and the joy of reaping the success.  In this PSLE journey, Qiqi should pay gratitude and thank her good fortune to having a group of kind and responsible teachers, who spent almost the entire year, putting extra hours and efforts in tutoring and guiding the students.

Buddhism is about winning and in this journey, Qiqi had emerged victorious in many aspects.  I hoped she continues to strive in her life, phase after phase...

Visit to Soka Gakkai Bangkok : Nov-10

Many many many moons ago when Jetstar offered super low airfares for some locations, Victor and some colleagues decided to take advantage of their offer and planned for a short getaway to Bangkok. That getaway did not materialize as Thailand subsequently suffered their recent most serious 2010 Thai red-shirt protest.. More than half a year later, we finally made our trip!

Ikeda Sensei brought Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism to 192 countries and territories worldwide. To trace Sensei's trail would be almost unthinkable, the least we could do is to visit the Soka Gakkai centres in these countries. Hence Soka Gakkai Thailand @ Wittayu Centre, Bangkok became our very first stop.



This SGT centre is a very humble one, very much like our Lor 18 Geylang centre although its premise is a little bigger. They presently have two halls and an office cum sales area, one hall with a gigantic butsudan and seats as all kaikans have, and another smaller hall with a more modest butsudan and members take to the floor to chant. A handful of members were chanting as we joined them and performed our morning gongyo for the day. The kaikan is currently undergoing some renovation and expansion.. I am sure this kaikan will be able to serve more members if we were to return for a second visit! :)

Xuan's 2010 : Nov-10

This is what this artwork is called, the future city.I drew,painted and decorate it. Took me 4 lessons to complete it.

This art piece is about a disastrous city because of global warming.I drew silhouettes of people and animals.The colourful smoke are the polluted air from the chimney.

En'en and Nanny : Nov-10

En'en is born a fortune baby.  Through her, our family (especially myself) has revived our faith and started learning and practicing Nichiren Buddhism earnestly. She is our 善知识, someone who is born to improve and bring our faith to the next level.

Not only the family's faith and good fortune have grown along with En'en, she also has an enormous benefit herself, and that is to have the great fortune of having a nanny who adores and treats her just like a family.

珍姐brought En'en up just like a family member.  Whenever there are events which are interesting for En'en, she will never miss her out.  Her spirit, energy and compassion have greatly impressed us.  Since En'en is young, 珍姐 has brought En'en to many special places and events, like 歌台, National day, Chalet... Recently, her "visa" to En'en has even extended to oversea trips.  So far, En'en has already traveled 2 times with her Nanny to Gentings and Penang.  It's embarrassing to say her first overseas trip is not with us.

Recently, Esther (珍姐's daughter) has compiled and burnt a photo disc for En'en.  I am sharing them to let you feel envious... :-)

Shin Yang's Birthday :Oct-10

When there is a birthday celebration in the family now, the person whom gets really most excited is probably En'en.  En'en could now better relate and anticipate all events happening in a birthday celebration; cake cutting, red eggs, presents... and just thinking about them, makes her pounding with excitement.

This month is ling's birthday and I had bought her a durian cake from Jane's cake shop at Jalan Kayu.  While Shin Yang enjoys almost any kind of cakes, looking at how En'en responds to the cake makes me feel that this girl would outshine Shin Yang in no time.

En'en Goes On A Plane.. Without Us : Oct-10

Enen went for her first holiday out of the country in June this week. To Genting with Zhenjie's entire clan, including Megan, for a weekend. They went by coach. This time, Zhenjie's entire family brought Enen along for a visit to Joanne in Penang by plane. Her sisters were green with envy at Enen's good fortune to be able to travel & vacation. Look at how mature Enen looked as she checked into the boarding area!

80th Anniversary Song - I Rise : Oct-10

SSA will be holding the 80th Anniversary Celebration on 25 December at the indoor stadium to commemorate the Soka Gakkai's 80th Anniversary and 50th Anniversary of worldwide kosen-rufu. This also signifies a fresh departure for SSA towards 2017, SSA's 50th Anniversary.

A theme song "I Rise" has been specially composed for this occasion. All of us will learn this beautiful song at this month's discussion meeting.

Our Aspiring Contortionist : Oct-10

After persevering at ballet lessons & exams for more than 6 years, Qiqi is finally showing some enthusiasm at a ballet-related activity - stretching and being flexible. In fact her twisted Qiqi brand of passion once again surface - her ambition now is to be a contortionist!! In fact, she has even google the possible institutions to help realize her dream; she wants me to send her to a supposedly renowned gymnast school in New Jersey.. i bet she doesn't even know where is that!!?

Anyway, to have a dream and to work towards it, is admirable. When she realized that I don't have the resources to send her to New Jersey, she is now looking at local gymnastic programs and even secondary schools with rhythmic gymnastics as its CCA. Whatever it is, at least Qiqi is looking forward to her ballet lessons now.. ;)

Meanwhile.. until she has means to find a decent barrel to practise her barrel contortion acts, our home laundry basket seems an acceptable alternative.

"RIP" iPhone : Oct-10

This must be a funny sight which ponders you... looks really like a wake held for a missing iphone, isn't it?  Well, if that's what you're thinking, then BINGO!  Shinyang had accidentally dropped her phone into the water last night.  According to the apple warranty, any liquid damage to the phone is not covered.  We did not know until the support person told us that there is a actually a little white indicator on the iphone which will turn red/pink if contacted with liquid.  Desperate, Shinyang started to google how to salvage her dear phone.  One recommended way is to keep it under the raw rice which will absorb all it's water moisture.  Many people who had their phone soaked in the washing machine, hot tub, dropped into river were able to revive their phones using this method... Amazing... let's hope Shinyang's phone will back 'alive'.

Paying Last Respects to Mrs Lee Kuan Yew : Oct-10

Last Saturday evening while the family was watching the usual Taiwanese soap opera Love, a series of chinese words ran down the tv: MM Lee's wife has juz passed away at home at the age of 89. Goodness gracious! It has only been a couple of days that MM Lee being admitted into hospital to treat a chest infection was on the news..

Though I was never very interested in Mrs Lee to find out more about her, the manner the media reported her death was very effective in generating this massive sense of loss in me.. that my motherland has lost a mother of the land! Having juz lost mummy and still feeling lost with the loss, guess I felt especially sad about Mrs Lee's departure.. In fact, I felt an urge to go pay my last respects to her!

When I voiced my thought, Xuan immediately said she wants to go too. So on the second day when the public was allowed to visit her wake, Victor took half a day off and we set off to the Istana after fetching Xuan from school and taking a quick lunch together.