Eat Dessert First (metaphorical sense) courtesy of beliefnet.com

Invite your friends and/or family for dinner and serve dessert first....Let each person present know how he/she is dessert in your life.
(Maybe I should do that. Eat dessert first.)

Give a dessert to someone whom you’d like to appreciate with a treat...
(This is sweet. The good thing is that you can buy it for the person too.)

My Paper's V's Day guide.

These are some of my thoughts on certain portions I read in it.

Some tips for women to be an ideal life-partner:
1) intelligence and wit.
This trait features quite a lot on men's lists. Guess bimbos are out of business now.
2) optimism.
It helps us be a better source of support to our men. When they are down, we cheer them up and put the smile back on their faces. I'm reminded of this song All Things Bright and Beautiful. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLeq2vj9kcA
3) a unique sense of style.
We should not blindly follow societal trends. Each of us is an individual and we choose what appeals to us.
4) order food portions you can finish.
If you can't, share your food with them. Of course, they like to see us throw caution to the wind and indulge along with them. They too, are weight-conscious.
5) play a sport/video games/computer games.
I love to watch and play tennis, and play Strikers 1945 Flash where you shoot down enemy planes and tanks. I'm open to other video games too, like the driving and the fighting games. So I'm safely in this category. Haha.
6) Have more makeup-free days.
I definitely advocate this tip for the sake of maintaining good skin. I'm glad I satisfy this criterion. I put makeup only for performances, which amounts to once a year. Hehe.

SDU adviser advocates relationships developing from friendships.
I believe that is the most perfect love relationship one can have. I know a couple who did just that and they are happily married now.

Some ways to improve relationships:
1) using words to affirm
I've learnt that actions matter more. Merely making promises but not fulfilling them and letting people down in the process makes us hypocritical.
2) giving
Love is to give till it hurts. I think this was said by Mother Teresa. I saw the exemplification of it in the actual ending of The Little Nonya, where Yueniang left Chen Xi to protect his family and reputation, despite loving him. Behold, true love. Love is to think of the other's welfare at one's own expense.
3) spending time together
I've always preferred outings with just one other person. It is easier to communicate without having to worry about leaving others out, lending an air of intimacy to the time spent.
4) physical intimacy
I beg to differ on this point. Emotional intimacy causes a deeper bond between two people. They communicate with their eyes and the vibes they radiate towards each other. The intrinsic knowledge that they mean something to each other closely binds them together.

The friends we made on our CNY cruise onboard Legend of the Seas

Jung, our very own Assistant Waiter, from Korea. So nice talking to him. :)) Good looking too, right?







My dad and Jeffrey, our own Waiter, from India. He is very nice too, called us when we were going back to Phuket and he was with his friends. Good-looking as well. Heehee.





Junliang, our own Stateroom Attendant, from Jilin, China. A very efficient and professional worker. :))

Some of my students

Chen Ran(left) and Xiaolong(right).









Wenjun(right)

My adorable niece, love her. :)

Calista(Min min) eating Pocky Chocolate.









Drinking her water. Such a sweet smile too!








So engrossed in getting more Pocky out.








Drawing her favourite picture: dots.

A surprise gesture :))

I was the bridesmaid for May's and Maurice's wedding about 10 years ago and though we took photographs, she could not pass them to me immediately. A few days back, she actually posted them to me! It was a sweet thing to receive. Looking at them makes me smile.

She included a note with them as well and reading it makes me realise how long we've known each other and how we've journeyed with each other for the 17 years. I am especially grateful that she and Maurice came all the way from Pasir Ris to Upper Bukit Timah, to be with me during my mum's demise.

I miss the dinners with the couple and Gerry at her place but then again, she has to cook for us. It's not fair to her. Of course though, she is a fantastic cook and she learnt how to cook from scratch! She used recipe books and Maurice as her taster, to perfect her dishes. Read more about our meals in http://pseudocookery.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabulous-dinner.html

My relationship with my dad

Our relationship has been growing stronger and this makes my mum's soul rest in peace. She was worried that our headstrong characters will clash, at her deathbed. My tongue is still sharp and I tend to be rather strong with my words. I am trying to curb it because I know my dad is sensitive. I am also trying to be more patient with him. Age is catching up with him and he is forgetful at times. I must let my pride and lack of understanding be quelled!

People say I'm a good daughter but it's my duty. I know he needs me to give him my time too. Anyway, the bible says we must not look down on our parents when they grow old. Now it's just my dad and I, since my brother is married. I think my dad's a good father and I know he loves me a lot. He tries to listen to me when I share and sometimes I get impatient when he takes time to understand something. That's not good on my side. He buys what I want and waits patiently when I am late in meeting him. I am glad I got to buy him lunch on my parents' wedding anniversary, since my mum's not with us anymore.

We share a lot on our thoughts and about life. I really treasure spending time with him. Though time with my friends and on work is compromised, the bigger picture is being with my dad. It's great going to shopping malls with him. We give each other time to walk on our own before meeting to go home. I can walk wherever I want, without feeling guilty for dragging my companion around with me. Then after we meet, we share with each other our adventures in exploring the place. :)) I feel comfortable speaking to him about the birds and the bees too, since we are mature adults. I've never felt this way before. :))

We went to Macau and it was good. We are going on a cruise this Chinese New Year, since it's the first one without my mum. I am excited because the ship's attractions look enticing and I have my camera to take pictures with! I have been sharing the information on the ship that I find on the website with my dad. We take turns to carry out the check-in procedures. I do the online portion and he does the actual check-in on the day we leave. Perfect teamwork!