Year of Goat

Wishing you a very blessed year of the Goat -
May you have a great year filled with an abundance of joy, peace and prosperity!

Blessed Christmas & Happy 2015!

As we reflect 2014 and resolute for a better 2015.
Let's thank God for everything He has given us!

Enjoy this meaningful festive holiday with our loved ones
and cheers to joyful days ahead!

Happy Earth Day

Thank God for this wonderful home call earth. It houses about 7 billion people.

God bless our one and only earth! 

Let's do our part to keep it beautiful, peaceful and safe!

Easter Sunday

Easter is more meaningful now that I discovered this...

God's timing is always perfect. ;)

The Journey (Movie)

2014 movie, made in Malaysia

Movie review from a recently married lady's perspective

I had the honor to watch the preview of this Malaysian blockbuster in Singapore.

Married last year, I could identify with the stress of preparing for a wedding. My hubby and I wanted a simplistic wedding. However our families do have certain expectations on how it should be done.

Even though my wedding is over, I still wish that my family could gave us more space and time to plan the romantic wedding I dream of, at times. It's about hubby and I getting married anyway, why should we let others interfere when, where or how it should be done?

After watching this comedy, I learnt that observing the Chinese wedding traditions (personally hand-deliver the invitation cards) are not just rara to keep the traditions alive or to show off how filial or well-off we are.

As Chinese, we hardly express love. These traditional Chinese wedding rituals are to helps us to convey our love sincerely..

~ Love for our spouse.
~ Love for our families.

~ Love for our relatives.

Preparing Chinese wedding is the teething moments as the couple learn about both families's expectations. As we get to know one another, understand their thoughts, we grow to love them. Along the way, somehow all the ideals of a fairytale wedding fades away. This process is an excellent opportunity to learn about compromise. From this touching movie, I learnt the most important thing about a matrimony is not the banquet or the photos, but to receive blessings and acknowledgement from people who are close to our hearts.

7 Cool Factors:
1. Biking road trip with father-in-law! Need I say more?!

2. Reminds us of Singapore in the 70s and early 80s.  In olden days, people had their wedding banquet in their own house. How meaningful it is to hold a wedding party at the home that we grew up in?! Certainly more memorable and authentic! Perfect movie for kids who are keen to see the Kampong era which their parents had grew up from. Ok.. I am a sucker for Nostalgia...

3. Covers very real prevalent issues – cross cultural marriages with globalisation, old age, parenting, death and even "Pang-dang" taboo Chinese traditions.

4. The giant DIY balloon is truely an icon of Malaysia's unity.  Impressive massive effort is required to collect plastic bags from different parts of Malaysians – no joke in a big country like Malaysia!

5. Achievement for Singapore as we can see the censorship are relaxed for dialects movies. I love dialects as they are colorful languages that connect us with our roots and our old folks. Even ministers connect with the masses through dialects!

6. Captivating cinematography of undulating green farms, beaches and Chinese festivities around Malaysia.

7. I especially liked the fact that the family "U-turned" for their loved ones. They are willing to go off track and go the extra mile to make their loved ones happy. A symbolic scene of love.

Movie Synopsis:
SPG (without the sexy sarong) seeks permission and blessings from stubborn farmer dad to marry clueless Ang-mo boyfriend.


Cast:
Organic !
Most of the casts are not professionally trained in acting. They are just typical Malaysian Chinese who speak fluent colloquial dialects – which retains the original flavour of the multi-racial country; comfortably.

My impression for the lead male character grew as he grew up. Ben Pfeiffer is a promising actor who could develop the character with depth.

The lead actress, Joanne Yew, is a very sweet, fair lady. Her lushious hair reminds me of the Korean actress, Gianna Jun, in My Sassy Girl. What attracts me about her is her outstanding screen presence. However, I would hope to see more soulful expressions than her rolling of XL black contact lens.


Date-friendly:
Yes, teens and family friendly too! A movie without the Hollywood glamor but will capture the audience's heart.


Tips:
Bring tissue along.


Lydia's Ratings:
8 out of 10 stars.


Release Date:
Singapore - 20 Mar 2014. Cathay cinemas.


Trailer:
Please click here to view.

Satay

In 2011, a survey reflected that Singaporeans prefer Satay as the communion food for Singles day celebration.

This special day is especially meaningful to me as I am the first to revere this occasion in Singapore. I planned a High Tea at Suntec on 11 November 2007, about 50 singles attended. We even invited a drum band to add energetic vibes to the party.

Although we just lose our Singlehood, my hubby and I wanted Satay for supper to commemorate Singles Day. We drove aimlessly in Geylang and found Satay in a very crowded yet unassuming Kopitiam.

Kwong Satay

Well-featured and recognized

Address:
Sin Lian Eating House, 549 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389504
(Junction of Lorong 29 Geylang, below Hotel Yew Lian)
Opening hours: 5pm - 10pm. Closed on Wednesday.

Satay sauce with visible peanut bits

Recommends:
1. Chicken Satay – XL chunks of tender juicy meat!

2. Pork Satay – Charcoal grilled. Soft and juciy. Similar to the Chicken Satay.

Ambience: 5 out of 10

Cleanliness: 7 out of 10

Celebrating 11.11

Remarks:
My hubby likes the Mutton Satay but I find a little tough.
This coffee shop also housed the famous Hokkien Mee, so be prepared to wait a while for seats. Road side parking available.

Christmas Greetings

My Warmest Christmas wishes to you and your family!
May this Christmas be bright and the New Year begin with joy and prosperity!

CNY Checklist

Few years ago, one of my sister had to call us on the first day of chinese new year to "borrow" mandarin oranges. My sister and brother-in-law were so busy with work and their kids that they completely forgotten about it!

As busy professionals, we might neglect some stuffs during the lunar new year preparation. My parents are elders in their big families, hence we are expecting quite a number of guests. I am the one preparing for chinese new year at home, I could understand how homemakers feel. 3 rounds of shopping and it's not done yet! It can be trivial and tiring. A To-Do-List would be helpful! Hope this list makes your CNY preparation more efficient.

3 rounds of shopping to get this table of Lunar New Year goodies.

CNY checklist for Singaporeans:

• Ample Drinks for Guests
• Mandarin Oranges
• Munchies
  (Pineapple tarts, Cuttlefish, Sweets, Nuts, Bak-kwa, Plums, Love letters)
• Money for Ang Bao
  (about an hour queue at the bank/post office for clean crisp notes)
• Spring Cleaning
  (at least living room)
• Red Decorations
• New year outfits
• Yu-Sheng
  (salad tossing for prosperity)
• Reunion Dinner

Last but not the least, a hearty list of CNY greetings to use during this joyful season. 祝愿您,

• 工作舒心
• 薪水合心
• 被窝暖心
• 朋友知心
• 爱人同心
• 一切顺心
• 永远开心
• 事事称心！

Instead of spending time on TV, poker or mahjong; take time to fellowship with your family, relatives and friends!

Happy New Year!

Reflect and learn from 2011.
Forgive and live!
Let go and love!
May the days ahead be exciting, colourful and creative!
Let abundance of goodwill, peace and positivity be unleashed this coming new year!

Cheers to a Merry 2012!!!

Christmas Gift Ideas For Men

1. Games
Board games, drinking games, console games; or even a treat to a game of archery is fun!

2. Gadgets
If hand phones or flat screen TV is beyond your budget/relationship with him. Consider accessories for his toys... It could be a pair of speakers, iPad sleeves or car pillows. These will spice up his high-tech experience.

3. Watches
The most popular accessory for males.

4. Leathers
High quality wallet/brief case/ shoes/ belts make a practical, presentable and professional gift for him.

5. Tees
Every man owns at least one Tee-shirt, a quality sports tees does not show sweat stains and dry fast. Dry fast sports tees are especially essential for the sporty men or men who live in tropics like Singapore.

Hope these ideas help you to choose the most appropriate, useful and impressive presents.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

Singapore's Singles Day Food Survey Result

Find out what locals say about the food chosen to signify Singapore's Singles Day from this video!

As president of Association of Dating Agencies and matchmakers in Singapore, I wish you a merry, memorable and meaningful Singles Day! We will be celebrating this occasion at REVEL tonight.

Celebrating Singles Day is an awesome reason to gather people together and meet new friends, encourage singles to embrace living and enjoy a tradition that is uniquely Singapore's!

Do spread the joy of Singles Day in Singapore!

Halloween Party 2011

Hippy Angry Bird I am...

Angry Bird threesome
combed Clarke Quay and Zouk last Saturday.
It was a total blast!
Everywhere we go, people were vying for an opportunity to take photos with us.
We felt so loved like Rock band!

Besides being photographed, I am glad we manage to take some
snapshots of amusing and creative characters in the midst of laughters and banters.

Here are my 5 favourites this Halloween!

Iron man

Smurf

With my angry accomplice, Chef Smurf and piggy king.

Duo from UP

Old man & Asian boy from the cartoon movie UP


Jesus

 Oh Jesus... forgive me, for I had been really angry...

Pocahontas

Or is she Rapunzel?

I am already looking forward to the next Halloween party! Hope to catch you then!

What food should Singapore eat on Singles Day?

11th November has been designated as the World Singles Day. In China, fried dough stick and a bun are eaten specially to signify Singles day. In Korea, Singles day is signified with black sauce noodles. Singapore is commonly known as a "Food Haven". As a nation of foodies, what do you think we should eat to signify Single's day (11.11)?

Should it be Fried Dough stick, Ice-Cream (stick), Satay or French Fries?

Please help fill this 1 question survey on what food Singapore should eat to celebrate Singles day.

The link to the survey is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NP3QXSC

Participants get to win a pair of REVEL tickets on 11.11.11 (details of party on www.revel.sg)

Do help spread this to your friends.
Thank you very much for sculpting Singapore's culture.