It's been a while

Ah well, it's been a while...

Been on cloud 9 for a bit so didn't update >P Happy? yes, I'm happy. Very in fact =)

Oh... I'd better do this fast, was gonna sleep liao but suddenly had this idea to update my blog.

I'm getting married, soon =) How were the preparations? Same response of the married couples (most of them) lor.

It can be tiring, stressful, fun, exciting and lots of love knowing you're gonna spend the rest of your lives together.

My wife? She made a good contribution to our wedding preparations, what more can I ask for? It is a 'we' thing which I'm glad she wants it this way. An understanding, helpful and caring woman. =) There are certain times of tension but we never had an argument.

On a separate note, I saw a writing on the white board in camp. 'Work takes away the 3 evils: boredom, vice and need.'

I need to find more work to do since it's the holiday seasons and work isn't a lot.... I'm getting bored and needing her more... and getting very hard to stay away from the vice of smoking... quitting ain't easy doing it alone.

Hoof Prints

A lean silhouette of a horseman in the evening sun, the archer steadies his breath and draws his bow. Battle hardened wanderer, he releases his arrow true towards his target.

"That is where we're going" he said, looking at the lady riding his back "and you're coming with me"

"Wantttt" went the lady X)

They have each other for where ever that arrow lands, be it thick forests, vast plains or foggy terrain.

He liked the part when she said "Let another woman touch you and I'll stab you 17 times" while hugging the archer.

He replied "Anyone who tries to take you away, I'll kill him"

Surprise Surprise

I surprised my baby for her birthday X) All thanks to Linda and her husband King Seng =)

Yeah, Linda first bumped off the idea of a birthday surprise visit by asking me. She even helped me get the information I needed to plan - hotel location, costs, how to get there. My poor baby probably had no idea we were in cahoots.

Of course we almost blurted out our plan, yeah, both me and Linda. 'Cynthia is asking me about your trippppp' 'Yeah, I almost slipped my mouthhhh' 'She said fetch wk when he reaches the airport' *yeah, she almost knew.... almost*

So came the day for me to fly.

Plane Ticket - *check*
Hotel - *check* just in case
Baggage - *check*
Gifts - *check*

The arrangement was for King to fetch me from the airport X) *thank you again King!*

King shared with me that they told baby they're gonna stay over with her when it's gonna be me =) Linda got her to dress up 'We're going outttt, dress uppp'

And when the door opened, I saw my baby, couldn't forget that moment. My baby reeled a bit as she was hit by surprise, her face went 'what the...', then reality sunk in - Baby's hereeeee >P She greeted me with a hug and thanked King as he went off into the lift.

Then we spent the day together, I was totally comfortable, putting my baggage in the room, exploring her place. While my baby still seem a little dumbfound *just a little* >P

She brought me out to eat, I wanna eat Indo food XD

'Why are you smiling?'

'I couldn't believe you are here' she answered still smiliing to herself X)

We spent the duration of my holiday period together, I've gotten so used to having her by my side that I didn't really want to go home.

I even got to meet King and Linda's two adorable kids, Chris and Bella X) They are soooo cute!

Oh, and I met baby's father too. On her birthday treat at a Japanese grill place, the food was good, the rice tasted wonderful (so wonderful I ate two bowls of it).

Linda told me before that their worry is when I'll meet baby's dad. 'He's that scary mehhh?'

But luckily no, but hell that comment from Linda made me all the more nervous still when I met him in person. Baby's dad sat at the same table, Sam was directly in front of me and saying 'why are you looking at meeeee?'

My mind went 'You have no idea kid!' Hooray for Sam XD Didn't know what to say to baby's dad, it would be rude to just sit there and stare... so I had to keep on eating... that's how the two bowls of rice came about -_-" *rightttt, laugh baby laugh*

After lunch was meeting baby's dad in his office O_O *round 2 - internal panic, I got nothing to eat liao!* Baby told me to ask dad questions so I did =)

It went well and boy was I glad X) Hooray!

I wanna go to Jarkata againnnnnn.

Bitching about passwords

Fuck... yeah.. i sweared

That was the first word in my mind when I tried to sign in to update my blog... couldn't freakin sign in! I didn't change the password for my blog and why the heck did it happen???

Too many passwords to remember -_-"

I realised my password was too easy to hack... well, yeah... Someone did (they could've changed my password for all I know!)

Don't know why but it's all good =)

Discovered my internet accounts got hacked into... all of them... yep, I believe all of them (cause I use the SAME password for everything, facebook, blog, twitter, hotmail)

And with a stroke of luck, discovered someone had access to my hotmail account... which means probably my facebook, blog, everything else probably had been broken into.

Thank you for hacking, whoever you are =) really

I'm pleased to know that I made such a positive impact in your life that you became interested in me =)

I believe that now that you've seen what's in my mails, facebook and such, there are no deliberately hidden facts that is displayed to everyone else, you'll see that I'm worth my salt X)

No hidden agendas, no hidden actions, no dirt for you to dig (I'm sorry)

I have to apologise to you that I had changed my passwords (yes, I'm sure you will still be able to hack it) but hope that this positive experience will let you understand and be proud of the person you are so fervently following - me! =)

Have a nice day and hoping to touch your life again X)

My Heritage (Grandpa)

I'm feeling nostalgic all of a sudden. So might as well start keeping track of my own heritage.

Met my aunt for dinner recently, she spoke about having a life journal. That parents should do for your kids. I called it heritage but she disagreed, saying heritage are worth something, there's value in them. With all due respect, I disagree my dear aunt, the value of any particular heritage is unsurmountable to the people involved.

My grandpa passed on, yeah... he is. But here's something to remember him by, for all my family who might stumble upon this blog.

Grandpa came over to Singapore from somewhere in China. Along with many, he left his homeland to seek his fortune here. Life was hard, he worked as a coolie and also as a rickshaw rider back in those days. Then he met Grandma, she was working as a samsui woman.

They married and started a family, that's when my dad came about. I view that my grandpa as the first generation, the patriarch of my family, so that makes me the 3rd generation. (arguably 2nd generation)

Then war came, the Japanese made their already tough life even harder. They survived.

Grandpa had two sons, but sadly he lost one due to cancer, if I remember correctly, he died from smoking (or so I was told). My dad then became the only son.

When I was born, grandpa was already living in the modern Singapore. He had seen so many changes in his life. He is old, very old.

I remember that he would bring me to school when I was just a little toddler and fetch me when I finished school. Life was simple then, I would be happy to follow him out on morning walks. To the coffee shop nearby, to have coffee and eggs, I would smile inside my heart whenever i see those olden coffee cup and saucer when I go for coffee.

That was in circuit road, our old apartment. Then we moved to Simei and I went to Primary School.

He would wait down at the void deck everyday, enjoying the peacefulness and having his smokes. I get to see him everyday after school and we would go back home for dinner. There was once I chased and got up the wrong bus, got lost -_-" A nice auntie passed me some money to take a cab back home, and there he was, ever so happy to see grandpa sitting there.

Grandpa often would remind me to study hard and work hard. There was once, he stopped me from playing games. (yeah, I already loved games when I was little) I ran away out of the house when he did not notice, I ran across to the other side of Simei (my mum was working part time at a nursery - I knew what I was doing already even when I was young okay... not everything spur of the moment without a plan XD)

Grandpa searched everywhere for me... (yes, I do feel bad when I think of it)

Grandpa stayed with us for 10 over years, he loved chinese chess. He would grab me to play with him, sometimes I will challenge him to a game and he would happily oblige. I got better and better playing with him. He would insist that his piece was in the correct position and I mistook my piece in another place (yeah, I knew he tried to cheat >P I gave in anyway)

Grandpa start to grow older and senile, my aunt (Mandy) took my grandparents in. (Yes yes, with all families, there's some drama drama at this point - then my aunt decided that she'll take care of my grandparents)

We start to grow up and have our lives, visiting once a month. Grandpa had a couple of stroke attacks here and there... plus he's getting more and more senile.

But grandpa loved me, his grandson, he loved me till death. He couldn't remember a lot of people, it takes a bit of reminder for him to remember we are his kin... all... except me. Even being senile, he NEVER forgot me, NEVER. I was always on his mind, he knows immediately that I'm there when he hears my voice. He never fails to still remind me to study hard and work hard. He didn't want me to fail. Afterall, he gave me my name.

Wai Khuen, symbolises Strength and Power in our dialect 'Cantonese'. I'm keeping this name for life, even though geomancers said that my name is too strong and if my signs aren't strong enough to carry it, I will suffer a crushing defeat. Heck, I love my name. I will carry the world on my shoulders if I have to.

Grandpa passed on in his sleep, peaceful death... I couldn't remember what year... but the date, is forever etched in my mind.

December the 3rd. A day after my birth date, it was like he waited till after my birthday (silently wishing me a wonderful birthday wish as he breathed his last)

Yeah, tears are welling up my eyes as I typed to this point. =(

During his funeral, I stayed dry eyed. The rest were crying, I held back. I had to be the pillar of strength for the family. At night, my sisters cajoled me to cry, when there's no one else around (they knew I had been holding back).

He wanted a water burial, I watched as the coffin moved into the burners and the long wait to collect his remains. His bones were white with a hint of yellow. We traveled to the seas with his remains in my hands, a red cloth holding him inside.

As the grandson, I was the one lowering him into his watery grave (my family and relatives knew he wouldn't want anybody else to do it). I watched as I lowered him, red baggage touching the sea water, releasing my grip and watch him sink deeper and deeper. I buried grandpa with my own hands.

I never cried. I tried very hard to hold myself together. No one can understand that pain inside my heart, being the only grandson burying his granddad. Those fond memories, that respect I have for him, without him, I wouldn't be here. I remained grave silent throughout the procession.

As the boatman started the barge back to the harbor, I watched as the place I buried my grandpa drift away. He wanted a water burial, so that he can be free to travel the seas. I had to call out to him one last time, I choked as I yelled, fighting to contain my tears.

"Grandpa!!! Time to sail the seven seas!!!"

Yeah, I still feel that grandpa is still watching over me somewhere out there... sometimes, memories of him sitting there, enjoying his smokes appear in front of me as I light up my own.

My name is strong, my name is given by him, I will not back down and never will I go down without a fight.

This is for you, my grandpa, Tang Ah Kow.

Regards,
Tang Wai Khuen (Alex)

It's Magical (The moment)

He always wanted to watch a musical, he had taken part in a musical before, he liked it.

He post on facebook that he wanted to catch 'Chicago', she replied that she wanted to. =)

They talked about it on msn, he wanted to book tickets right away. She told him to select the date of the musical and she'll make plans to come over. XD

He wanted to book the earliest dates so that he can see her fastttt. But then decided on 1st May where he would be able to take a few days of leave around that period to spend time with her. He chatted with her while buying the tickets online. He chose not to bring up their friends during that conversation, he saw an opportunity for a date. =)

The tickets were bought! Then she quipped 'We seemed to have forgotten about mh and charlene'

*Lucky you brought them up only now* he thought XD

'It's a dateeee' >P

They continued to chat as the days get nearer, they would be able to see each other soon. It was a long wait, it's already long when you wanted to see someone for a day. He had to wait for 2 months!

He wanted to tell her, he wanted to ask her. I love you, I want you to be mine. He couldn't contain it, he wanted to call her and tell her, he typed it but deleted it before sending. ("Colbie Caliat - Fallin' for You" playing in the background) He decided that he would tell her personally when she's here, that just made the wait seem even longer.

He was elated when she arrived. They would meet up the next evening, after she had met her mum =)

That day.... oh, that day... he planned it would be in that big Ferris Wheel called Singapore Flyer. She hadn't been there before and he will bring her there.

He was still busy with work, trying to rush and clear off as much as poosible so that he can leave. 'shoot, I getting lateeee' Then the commotion in the office started.

It was a flurry of activities in his office, his guys were helping him check the timings for the Flyer, if he's still in time to bring her there. 'Sir! Try tucking your shirt in, take out, hmm... hair okay' my guys chipped in to make things happen (I felt like a celebrity getting ready to meet the flashing cameras before leaving my office.)

He was getting a little nervous as the cabin was reaching the highest point. He tried to say it but the words got stuck in his throat. (man, that wasn't as easy as I thought it would be!). As the cabin start to drift away from the highest point (yeah yeah, I know, romantic failure) 'WK, you better say it now!' he scolded himself inside.

"Well, I would like us to get together again" She looked at me =)

What else was said between us? I'm gonna keep that bit =P

And yes, we are together. From that Magical moment on.

It's Magical (A decade later)

They planned to meet, along with their group of friends (2 girls).

He arrived late, they had already finished eating (yes, that late) but kept a seat for him. He remembers coolly walking to the place, taking the escalators, (yes, it's trueeee) while listening to his iTouch.

He remembers the first person he laid eyes on was her. Yeah, he knew the two other girls would be there but he wasn't looking for them in his eyes (okay, they are going to kill me). Which was why he caught her raising her eyebrows when she first saw him after so many years, that pleasantly surprised look.

The group chatted and had a ball of a time in karaoke. He didn't think much then, 'just meeting up after so long' he thought, though he was aware of the past they once had.

She went back and he didn't remember if they had much contact after that. (yes, goldfish memory)

She came back the 2nd time after a few months, they met up again. They went to the riverside, where fireworks blasted into the night just as they reached the bank. They watched in awe at the fireworks, the two other girls snapped pictures and she stayed a few steps behind him. He looked back and saw her standing there with her hands covering her ears, looking at the fireworks. 'Cute' was his thought. X)

The difference between the first and second time was communication, they had a lot more conversation now. He remember the night she was flying back, he texted her.

She was at the airport with her family already and he was walking along the busy shopping district in the city. He would like to send her to the airport, a friendly gesture, which was the reason he went to the city alone, it was near her place.

'Well, she has her family with her already. Good enough' he thought, and he proceeded to catch a movie to end the night.

They continued chatting on msn, and facebook. They were apart but they maintained contact.

Then it dawned on him.

He realised that at a point he was just logging onto msn to see if she's online, disappointed when she's not.

The first text on his cell from her brightened up his day when he didn't see her online for that one particular day. The cell became their second mode of communication. When the messenger was down, or the net was sulking, they would text each other immediately.

Something in his head asked 'why am I doing this?' He knew he had started to fall for the same girl he had fallen for years ago. He tried not going online, not sending texts to her, to see if it's real. He couldn't stop looking at his cell while he worked, for every text that come in, he hoped it was her.

Then they started prodding the feelings of each other, every little action, each assessing what could the possibility be. They started to grow towards each other.

From the songs they started sharing between, to little facebook applications, each dropping subtle hints for the other to catch.

Their msn sentences linked to each other, it wasn't said but they knew. The songs they had shared with each other, one would type in a line in the song, carefully choosing the part where the other would find it easy to link, the other would understand and fill in the lines linking the song.

One of the girls caught it, he insisted it was just a song lyric. 'you were kinda like replying to each other'

He had fallen.

He wondered if she felt the same, she helped him along, with a whole lot of hints. (a guy is bad at getting hints, really, even though it is obvious to you girls)

He saw an opportunity to make a move, he tried...

I'm feeling sleepy now... would like to go on but, it will be best to leave it for the next post. =)

Good night my love.

It's Magical (Interlude)

I'm still at home, waiting to for the file to upload so I can send it out. Figured there's still time so here I am XD

You may wonder why this post? I wasn't really a believer in love stories, all the happenings sounds so coincidental. But then again, looking back, I wonder if someone has written my story and I'm following it through. Read on =)

They parted ways after the breakup, never spoke and carried on with their lives.

She went to college and university, away from this small island. He went on to obtain a Diploma certificate and went into the Army.

That took a few years away from them.

For some reason, something made him attempt to contact her by email. Which year was it again? He can't recall... What was it about? Probably the usual how do you do, how's life treating you emails

Or was it? He couldn't remember, except that he was just fresh in the Army when the emails started. The last recollection was her email to him, asking why is he starting to write like that? (At this point, he is really trying recall what he had written, nada... just a pure white flash)

He did not reply then on, Army got him busy. He never had the intention to stay on being a soldier, all of the guys had to undergo military training. 'Just a part of life' he thought.

He never expected that entering the Army without any knowledge about it in the first place, just thought of getting the best out of it while he's at it, would land him this far. He is now a professional soldier. He just heard that an Officer is the top dog in the Armed Forces and 'heck, why not?'

He remembers that his family were worried for him. Mum worries that her son can't take the pressure (mothers all worry for their kids). He remembered his little sister telling him "Brother, If you can't please don't force yourself. We know you will sacrifice everything to achieve what you wanted, including your life. Please take care..."

He remembers their worries and he did them proud, he commissioned as an Officer of the Armed Forces.

That kinda marked 5-6 years between them.

They each led their lives, in different places. Each started to love and have their own relationship with others. He never knew this could happen, but it did...

He had a few relationships, each didn't last. He didn't blame anyone, afterall he knew, it's not easy to be with someone in the military. He wasn't the romantic sort.

He almost married a woman, but alas, he was cheated on. He took to drinking, smoking heavier than usual, work suffered.

For half a year, he drank, smoked, partied and was manipulated by a woman (she didn't love him, just made him believe that she loved him) till one day, he realised after some thoughts. He had to break away from that hellhole, he was aware and finally recovered to his former self.

Then it happened, something made him want to text her. The two had not spoken for ever so long, but in between they had caught up with technology, adding each other on msn (but not chatting), adding each other on facebook (but that's all). He doesn't know what, but it just made him send her a facebook message.

'Hi, Been a long time ya? Coming back to Singapore?'

Somehow, timing couldn't be that nice (unbelievable). She was coming back for a short trip, and what not, 4 days later. =)

They met up with their common friends. But what happened?

Hold on... next post, next post... I should head off to my office now.

It's Magical (A decade ago)

They once had a budding romance during their younger years, he didn't really study hard during his younger years and had to re-do his high school for a year.

He set his mind on doing well for that year, a chance for him to redeem himself in his own eye. Pride was at stake, not just his, for his parents as well. He couldn't let his mother be the gossip from the relatives, he was all his mother had. Her pride was in him, because of him, the others had to shut their trap. Afterall, he was the only son in the family and the best of the children by far, young and obedient, never created trouble (at least no one in the family knows), he wouldn't let the relative say that his mother did not manage to teach her children well.

He met her in his repeat years, it started off as friends, he hangs out with this group of girls (she was in it)

The first event he remembered about her was when he got his first pager (it's was way before handphones became popular, was it even out in the market?)

The group of girls were the first to know about it. He handed the pager over to the sweet looking girl for a look (she requested it), he had not even told the group his number. But he received a beep on his pager from her X) She had taken down his number from the back of the pager while looking. Smart girl XD

Then probably when it all kinda started for him, memory's isn't a great friend of his (he's pretty much equipped with a goldfish brain - they forget that they've eaten after 3 seconds)

He was young, he remembered some conversation he had with her. That she had a relationship that ended before she came over to Singapore. She had asked what kind of girl he was looking for, 'A girl who would cook for me' was he reply.

'Well, I couldn't cook' the girl sheepishly said. 'You could learn from my mum' the boy winked (okay, I added the winking part)

Then comes the initiation of the relationship, sometime during that year (you gotta forgive that goldfish brain). That boy was shy, he didn't have the courage to tell her directly. He got another girl in the group to help him ask (okay, laugh). But boy was he glad when he knew the answer, 'yessss' he yelled (softly) and he couldn't sleep that night.

When he looked back now, at the things he did during his budding romance, he laughed. He couldn't believe it and it did happen.

He did not hold the girl's hand during the start (his sister laughs at this), the girl initiated it.
The old cross the road trick that many young ones might remember. He sent her home and she grabbed his hand while running across, their hands stayed glued together from then on.

They beeped each other loving number text to their pagers, recorded particular song lyrics to each other. There was a time he recorded a song for her, she called him to ask 'what do you mean by - Out to find someone new - ?' (sing lyric recorded)

Stupid boy! He sent the recording of the song when he heard it over the radio and did not choose the right line to record (the title of the song was all he was thinking about *smack head for that*)

With all budding romance, there's always some problems. It was him, his problem this time.

He was young and immature, foolish, to handle a relationship. His thoughts were running wild.
'Why would she choose me? Am I deserving of her?'

He ended the relationship very harshly, he didn't know better. He was dumb.

'Let's end this meaningless relationship' *Her heart broke* They never spoke after that.

Yes, it was my fault. I failed to manage it when I was young. The boy is me.

It took years to of maturing to look back at yourself and even more to know that you were wrong.

I am sorry for that my love.

After a decade, something magical happened. Await the next post ;-)

A New Beginning

Okay, I used to blog. Yessss, believe it (I'm not that old okayyy)

But I've removed that old one (coz it's all obsolete now) But will continue my style of blogging and manage my 'heritage' XD

Grandfather's story to grandchildren in the future "Read Grandpa's Blog okay?" X)