What do you remember when you were 4? For me, not much but among the few early memories I can recall is a flight. Probably my first. I remembered my mum excitedly asking me to look down at the lights below. Yes, it was a night flight and we were returning from my very first trip to Singapore. What do you remember when you were in Primary School? For me, apart from the wonderful memories of friends, teachers, family moments and my first school, were our regular visits to … [Read more...]
‘Get off B****! ‘ : Close encounter of the offending kind
I had an extreme encounter recently at a local 5* family resort, all within a span of 10 minutes. The first encounter began with me standing in line for my Egg Benedict, freshly made by a friendly elderly lady who was manning the egg station. In her soft, grammatically-correct English, she asked, “Did you study there?” pointing at the T-shirt I was wearing. I looked down and it was a ‘Harvard Dad’ souvenir tee bought during our visit to Harvard, Boston last June. I was quite taken aback … [Read more...]
Oh, to be a child…to be a child again
I wrote this just as we returned from the funeral of Angie's Grandma. It's particularly depressing as her departure coincided with Chinese New Year...On our way back from the crematorium, we could see droves of families packing their cars in the driveway, ready for the annual reunions or road-trips home. I think we can all agree that Grandparents have a special place in our hearts. For me, I know that no matter how old I am, I will always be a child in my Grandparents' eyes. This is also the … [Read more...]
The Reluctant Goodbye: How to talk to young children about death…
My heart is aching as I draft this post. My beloved Grandma passed away peacefully last night on Friday the 13th...How I wish we lived in a world where we won't have to bear the the pain of losing a loved one! There was great outpouring of grief and among those present were primary school-going grandchildren like Dana and my nephew Caleb. Death is one of the hardest subjects to broach with children, especially when we are struggling to deal with our own deep sorrows. But death is also an … [Read more...]
In sickness and in health…living out your marriage vows
My grandma suffered a stroke on Sunday morning. What ensued were manic visits to the hospital, agonizing waits for battery of tests, scans and probes to the tiny frame that is my 88 year-old Teochew-speaking Ah Ma. A steady stream of family members rallied round her, hoping that our moral support and physical presence would do miracles to her recovery. In the 6 bedder ward where my Grandma was confined, there lie a Chinese lady (in her late 40s or early 50s), head half-shaven, being hooked up … [Read more...]
The strengths in our stars – helping your children discover themselves
"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.” Isaiah 40:26 (NIV) Photo Credit “ Daddy, what’s special about me? Do I have talents?” the daughter asked. Now that the daughter has started Primary 1 proper, the entire family has made significant lifestyle changes to go to bed rather early. So imagine my surprise when I was asked the above question by the inquisitive daughter at bedtime … [Read more...]
A letter to the GOs of Club Med Bali Kids’ Club
(‘GO’ stands for ‘Gentil Organisateur’. They are the ambassadors of Club Med. Led by the Resort Village Chief (‘Chief de Village’), they are the international staff who would personally attend to the needs of the Guests, run activities while still being able to jive, act, play sports and do amazing acrobatic skills each and every day. They are the essence and pillars of Club Med. Dear GOs, My apologies. This letter is long overdue. 2 years to be exact since our very first Club Med … [Read more...]
Fun with Sun, Seeds and Soil @Urban Farm & Barn
To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, An eternity in an hour. ~ William Blake Last Sunday, we had an experience which kept us quite intrigued, not fully knowing what to expect and yet we walked away totally enriched at the end. What are we talking about? You see, we learnt from our friend, CheekyMonkies about a farm tucked surreptitiously ‘on top of Bukit Panjang hill’ which allows families to plant their own veggies. … [Read more...]
2 Funerals and a Darn Good Movie – Reflections and Hope of a Regular Dad
In many ways, this is not the kind of December I’m used to – my wife and I just returned from a funeral, our second in this ‘festive’ month. To make matters worse, it was a child’s funeral – 14 month-old baby girl, who died suddenly in her sleep, leaving behind two very distraught parents. The first funeral which we attended was quite the contrast – one of an ailing but well-loved senior, beloved Dad to a friend we know. Whatever the circumstances, death has a way to stop us in our tracks. … [Read more...]
Golden Sands Resort, Penang – The Grand Dame of Luxury Family Hotel True and True
Stepping into the lobby of the Golden Sands Resort Penang recently was a surreal experience for me. Growing up in Penang, THIS was the hotel where my parents would house our closest family friends visiting from afar. THIS was also the hotel which my parents would sometimes check us in for our very own well-deserved, once-in-a-blue-moon family getaway. Not surprisingly therefore, I have very fond memories of the hotel – the large, comfy rooms, the beautifully landscaped pool and the sandy … [Read more...]