Don't give up..... source unknown.

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...
But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.

Increasing CPF returns

http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/BlogUs/tabid/54/articleType/CategoryView/categoryId/9/The-Golden-Years--Elderly.aspx

I read about a CPF article that says this.

Increasing CPF returns

From 1 Jan 2008, all CPF members will earn an extra 1% interest on the first $60k in their CPF accounts. This includes up to $20k from the Ord account and $40 from the Special, Medisave and Retirement Accounts (SMRA). Or, up to $60k from the SMRA, ir the OA has less than $20k. The additional interest will go into the SMRA to add to retirement or Medisave savings.

Because of the extra interest, restrictions will be placed on funds in the Ordinary and Special accounts. From 1 April 2008, the first $20k in these accounts will not be allowed for use in CPF investment Schemes (CPFIS). They can however still be used for housing and education. Money that has already been invested under the CPFIS will not be affected.

Also from 1 Jan 2008, the interest rate formula for the SMRA will be changed to the yield (or effective rate of interest) of the 10 yr Singapore Government Securities (SGS) plus 1%. If the new SMRA formula had been in place since 1999, the SMRA rate would have average 4.5%. To help members adjust to the floating SMRA rate, the minimum interest rate for the SMRA will remain at 4% for two yrs.

My concern is this.
1) How will the effective rate of interest help our SMRA.
It is more like transferring the risk to the account holder.
There will be a risk of the interest below 4% after 2 years. If I remember correctly, there is a 'rule' that say our SMRA is 1.5% above the Ord account. So I will welcome the SGS plus 1% but if there is a risk of it below 4%, account holder should be given a chance to switch to CPFIS without the cap of the first $20k or can the account holder choose to remain at the current scheme.

2) Maybe the CPF board can share with us the performance of the Singapore Government Securities for the pass years. Looking at the statement 'since 1999, the SMRA rate would have average 4.5%', 0.5% extra for account holder may not be good enough for us to take the risk of having it below 4% after 2 years.

Thanks.

One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation. - Arthur Ashe

This statement makes it all so easy.

I remember watching this documentary about a teenager who is blind and has the sonic ability to navigate.

He is able to roller-blade, play basketball and walk to school. He has high level of self-confidence and by my standard, he is successful. But he does not want to use a walking pole. To him, this will indicate his handicap.

His success took a turning point when his family move to a new estate; he lost the ability to navigate to school.

From the documentary, on his first day of school, he was lost outside his house, he also lost the self-confidence all together. From his body language, he is totally loss.

After that he was introduce to a mentor, his mentor is also blind like him and has the sonic navigation skill. But his mentor got 2 other skills, his walking pole and mind mapping ability.

This teenager eventually accepted the teaching and hope his ability to survivor will improve.

So my take away is:
One important key to success is self-confidence.
An important key to self-confidence is preparation.
And the important key to preparation is been opened.

Thanks.

Time to change flat liao

Will be selling my flat at Blk 173A Punggol Field soon.
Stay there for 5yrs plus liao. So for my Children, need to move back to near in-law place.
Will help in term of Attila Primary 1 preparation and her brothers school next time.
Right now, can be unproductive to travel between Bedok and Punggol.

Also have my retirment plan for the downgrading. Sell my 5 rooms at Punggol and buy a 3 rooms at Bedok also means no need to pay for HDB installment at all liao.
This is my 2nd steps to my retirment plan.

But... spoken to a agent liao, still can not find a unit there... keep asking me to wait....How.

Any advise for this humble 3 roomers hunter at Blk 519 Bedok North.

Thanks.

Want to learn how to add Google Ads onto your blog and make some $$

Hi All,

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Thanks.

Kids learning point

I was with my kids at Ang Mo Kio Hub yesterday from 5pm to 6.30pm. After our dinner at the foodcourt at the mall, lulu and Max will keep asking me to bring them to the yogart stall at level 2. Ever since lulu try the 'free' little cup of yogart there, everytime we mention Ang Mo Kio Hub, she will say the yogart there is great. 很好吃。
This I must admit the yogart is doing well. They give sample, kids will remember it.

After the dinner, on the way out, there was this man playing 二胡 type of instrument outside the mall. Lulu ask me for donation to donate to him.
Here is what happen, I open my wallet and look for coins (need at least 2 for both Lulu and Max). Only to find a $1 coin..... sign... bad luck lor. Refuse to give her this. Hunt for coins on my right shirt pocket... Some luck this time. Found 2 coins. A $1 and a 20cents coins..... think for a while... try my luck at pants coin's pocket this time... dick and dick.. found a $1 coin... not again....Was thinking to myself, this old man is really lucky lor.

All this time, lulu and Max were lisening to his playing. They were enjoying the 'out of tune' sound he is making... and all this time, there were a lot of people walking and eating outside... (should have taken a photo on my HP to show u all). NOBODY stand and lisen to him.. but he still play on.. and my kids just stand there.. in the middle of the crowd and just lisen..wow.. they really know how to enjoy life.. somehow... over the years I and We had lost the innocence and we are always busy with our life and forget about our surrounding..... While they were enjoying the music.. I lost the joy of enjoying and busy with the coins......

Another side of lulu was observe while she was standing next to Max(his younger brother by 15 months) and lisening to the music. My Wife, Han and I had walk away this time. They still standing there.... For the next 5 mins or so, they stand there.... until lulu look back.. couldn't see us this time, at once, she hold on to Max (he still do not know we missing liao) and looked around... she kind of a big sister type u know.
All this time, I was looking at them from some distance, she stay cool, look left and right, walk a few steps away and return to where she standed. For about 1 min, she stay cool.. I was expecting her to cry or scream... but she stay cool... look around and saw me....

At that time, the place was really busy with people.... hum.. find she is the type can take care of her brothers.. maybe can take care of us when we grow old. ^^.

Check out my Provision Shop

Hi All,

Can help me to add this link into your blog.

Let me know when added, will buy you drink hor.

http://provisionshop.blogspot.com/

Thanks.

4 Wives - Source unknown.

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adored her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'

Thus, he asked the 4th wife , 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No way!', replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word.

Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No!', replied the 3rd wife. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!'
His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me.

When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd wife.
'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.' Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no mater where you go.'

The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth,power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

Why flirting is necessary.

Got this from http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/10174/
dating_and_romance/flirting_for_a_long_term_relationship.html

Have you ever wondered why we flirt? I mean, we've all done it at some time but it's one of those things that we do without really giving any though to why or how.

Quite simply, flirting's our way of letting the opposite sex know that we're available. What it says we're available for depends entirely on how we flirt but for the sake of this article, I'll concentrate on some flirting tips hat's done when you're with somebody you might like to develop a committed relationship with.

If you're a bit on the shy side, perhaps lacking in self confidence after being away from the singles scene for a long time, flirting can be quite a daunting task. It isn't difficult. It's like everything else; practice makes perfect so if you want to be a successful flirt on the serious dating scene, you need to start sticking your toes back in the water before you dive in after the big fish. Find a few fellas who you think are nice but are unlikely to bump into at the local post-office or your regular watering hole and practice your flirting skills on them. If you get it wrong the most you'll lose is the time you spent flirting but you'll have learned a lot. When you start to feel confident, that's the time to home in on the guy of your dreams and show him what you're made of. Here are some of the Flirting Tips;

* Smile

Picture the scene. You're sitting at a pavement cafe on a warm, sunny day. A reasonably nice looking guy walks past, glances in your direction but looks as miserable as sin. Five minutes later another reasonably nice looking guy walks past. This one looks across as you and smiles. Which of them would you most likely want to get to know better? My bet's that you'd go with the second guy, simply because he smiled.

A smile immediately gives your appearance more warmth so you'll seem more open and inviting to others.

When he talks, smile in appropriate places. Don't sit there grinning like a Cheshire cat; at best you'll appear false, at worse he'll think you've forgotten to take your medication. A smile shows interest and best of all, it's contagious.

* Eye Contact

Everybody enjoys looking at something they find appealing and you don't want him to think you don't fancy him, do you? If you're shy or insecure about flirting you'll perhaps find it difficult to hold his gaze for a moment longer than you should but you really MUST look at him when he's speaking. Looking at everything else will just say 'that crack in the pavement's more interesting to look at than you' and that's hardly what you want, is it?

If, on the other hand, you're super confident, don't go making the reverse mistake and spend the evening staring at him. Men may love to boast to their mates that 'she couldn't take her eyes off me' but in reality, being stared at makes a person feel awkward and embarrassed.

* Touch Him

A difficult one, this! Especially if you're shy.

Think back to primary school and that boy who fancied you (or fancied your mate, or whoever). Remember how he used to push you in the corridor or pull your hair in the playground? It's hardly strange we find it difficult to understand the opposite sex when that's how they behave when they fancy us but it was all about having the opportunity to touch us.

Now that we're older we have to find other ways of touching one another without appearing to be too intimate. Dancing's a good solution, as is touching his arm or knee when laughing together. Losing your balance slightly whilst walking together so that you have to reach out and balance yourself against him's another good ploy, as is asking him to help you on with your coat.

* Feel Sexy

Dress to feel sexy but remember that sexy isn't about showing it all. In fact, it isn't necessarily about showing anything! The way the fabric feels against your skin, heels and wearing your frillies underneath your dress can all make a woman feel sexy without looking cheap. The really good news though, is when a woman feels sexy she'll automatically appear sexy to the opposite sex.

* Show Interest

Sounds pretty obvious doesn't it, but sometimes it's easy to think we're showing interest even though the signals are actually saying something else. Showing interest is a mix of all what's gone before; not looking at the floor instead of at him, touching him when you have the chance, looking him in the eye and smiling, but above all, it's about listening to what he's saying and asking questions. If you were interesting in buying a house, I'm should you'd listen keenly to what the owner or estate agent had to say and ask plenty of questions, wouldn't you? Do the same when you're interested in a man! After all, how important's a house compared with a loving, supportive life partner?

* Appreciate Your Date

Whether you've had lunch, taken a walk around the park or spent an evening together, thank him for it and tell him how much you've enjoyed it. Don't go OTT; just say you've had a lovely time and that he's been good company.

Whatever you do, don't leave the date without letting him know that you're available for another. By saying nothing you're likely to leave him believing that you don't want to see him again. At the very least, you'd leave him feeling confused and if his self-confidence isn't right up there next to the likes of Mick Jagger and Peter Stringfellow, he's hardly likely to call again. Saying something like 'give me a call if you fancy doing it again' will open the way for him to make further contact. Playing hard to get rarely works.

Now it's up to you to get out there and start practising your flirting skills. Flirting with Guys may seem like a daunting task right now but believe me, it won't be long before flirting becomes second nature and you'll be wondering what the fuss was all about. Have fun Flirting.

Review on the show - Ratatouille

About the movies Ratatouille
http://www.gv.com.sg/moviedetails/gv_moviedetails_7363.jsp

In the hilarious new animated-adventure, RATATOUILLE, a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family's wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the city of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Despite the apparent dangers of being an unwanted visitor in the kitchen at one of Paris' most exclusive restaurants, Remy forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini, the garbage boy, who inadvertently discovers Remy's amazing talents. They strike a deal, ultimately setting into motion a hilarious and exciting chain of extraordinary events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down.

Remy finds himself torn between following his dreams or returning forever to his previous existence as a rat. He learns the truth about friendship, family and having no choice but to be who he really is, a rat who wants to be a chef.


My take away.

Never realise how small / little we are, may also fulfilled our dream if we believe in ourselves.
The little mouse dream of becoming a great cook, he did not just dream but go out and try his luck.
With a little luck, he manage to find someone to cook on his instruction and this help.

Everyday, everyone of us dream of doing something. But I realise only the few who believe in themselves make it out.
With this, the mouse is like everyone of us. For us to believe and try our luck and stop dreaming.