Completion of Sale - Part 2

After all the arguments, fighting and waiting, the day finally arrived to complete the sale on 10 March, 2008. The lawyers had completed the sale transaction.

Wednesday the 12 March, dawned gloomily with rain clouds hanging low when I went to church to serve altar. After breakfast at home, I went to the clubhouse at 0945 to find it buzzing with activities. There was already a crowd there as I took my queue number of E31. So thirty people were ahead of me to collect our cheques and cashiers orders, which was supposed to commence at 1000 hr. Because of the money, the atmosphere was jovial with anticipation, as neighbours joked with one another, on how much they were going to receive and whether they have found a new home. A stark different atmosphere to previous meetings when some people were fighting with each other over the en bloc sale.

Also present were staff from the Citibank, who stationed themselves to assist the residents/owners requiring banking assistance. A fleet of Mercedes taxis were waiting outside to convey customers to the bank to open their accounts or to deposit their money with lunch also thrown in. A carnival atmosphere but unfortunately with rain pouring outside. Citibank had been very aggressive in their quest to attract investment opportunities from the owners. They have also spent a lot of time and money in their pursuit.

I must admit that I have already opened an account with them as I am happy with their approach and services. In my previous posting, I mentioned that because of my pictures, I had developed a good rapport with them, and I was also looking for an alternative bank. I am very dissatisfied with my current bank, so Citibank fills the bill, for me to park my money there.

After a three hour wait, I finally got to receive my money. The delay was due to some people who took too long asking questions and going through all the figures repeatedly. It took only 5 minutes for me. My wife joined me, as I went home to make colour copies of the cashiers order and cheque. Never in my life have I received so much money. I deposited the money into the bank straight away. Although not greedy by nature, I was deja vu, at the turn of events.

I felt a sense of relief after months of uncertainties. Uncertain whether there are more problems ahead, and uncertain whether we are maintaining the time line. Now at last it is over. I have six months before I finally move out and collect my last tranche of money. My next headache will be my house move.


Saturday 15 March, 2008 - The Farewell Charity Party was held at the clubhouse sponsored by Credo and Rodyk. I contributed 100 pieces of my DVD for sale in aid of the charities - Kidney Dialysis and the ST Childrens Pocket Money Fund. As mentioned in my previous posting, souvenirs with my pictures were offered for sale. Gave me a feeling of accomplishment.


My family attended with the kids in tow. A high tea buffet was laid on when we tucked in to the food. The kids had their caricatures drawn and received balloon models from a lady there. While the kids were playing at the playground, I attended the auction, during which I did not buy anything. However, I stayed for the lucky draw, and surprisingly, won a consolation prize followed by the first prize of shopping vouchers. This was the second time within two weeks that I won lucky draws. Usually I have no such luck. I made heads turn with my winning but more so when it was announced that I contributed the pictures in the DVD.

Alls well that ended well with the receipt of our funds. As the agent and the lawyers commented, the en bloc sale went through miraculously at the turn of events.


Till then....

Completion of sale.

A man, suspecting his wife of infidelity, hired a PI ( Private Investigator), to conduct a surveillance on the wife. He gave a small notebook to the PI to log in reports, and requested the PI to submit the notebook to him for scrutiny. This was what the PI submitted to the man.



The woman went out.

The woman went to a house.

Man opens door.

Man and woman go upstairs.

I climb up tree.

The woman takes off clothes.

I fall down tree.



The above story was told to me many years ago. Recently, the story came to mind and it remained like a 'bee in the bonnet'. I laughed to myself. So I am sharing it with all who reads my blog.

Since my last blog posting, the bank function has come and gone. It was successful as I wrote.

Next week, the sale will complete. Lawyers letters have been sent and everyone is now waiting eagerly for the payment. This is a relief because there was speculation that it could be delayed. Any delay would jeopardise owners who have bought properties affecting payments. Although a relief, at the back of my mind, I sense some personal problems looming ahead of me. I do not know what, but it is causing me much anxieties!

Received some good news from the US. I have been awarded the 'Order of Merlin Shield' by the International Brotherhood of Magicians after completing 35 years. I was invited to the US to receive the award. Unfortunately they did not enclose air tickets, so I will not be there.

Next weekend, a farewell party will be held and the MP will also be attending. My pictures will appear on the many items offered for sale for charity. I have contributed 100 DVD of my pictures for sale. This will be the final batch for sale. I hope people will buy them up for posterity.

Till then....

I am elated!

The launch of my DVD featuring scenes of my estate in the form of a slide show with bright and soothing background music, had been a success. Containing 215 pictures, shot with my Nikon D200 camera, it took me one day to compile the 15 minute show.

I produced 200 copies of the DVD and launched the sale on 14th January, 2008. To date, there are now only about 10 copies left. Unfortunately, many residents do not read the notice board, and are not aware of the DVD until somebody tells them about it.

Lately, I was sought after by Citibank and Credo, for permission to use my pictures. Citibank had their function on Wednesday 27th February, at the clubhouse, where they gave a presentation followed by a buffet dinner for the residents.

I was approached to take pictures for the function, so that they can be made into a special DVD, to be given to the residents. The response was good with a large turn out, but I cannot help to note that some of them attended just for the free dinner. Anyway there was much interest shown in investing money with Citibank.

An earlier attempt by Citibank failed to attract the residents. When they asked around as to what latest event aroused the residents' interest, they were told that my DVD was a hit. So they came to see me for help by using my pictures. I am elated!

The dinner event went off very well, with me shooting pictures of everyone. Many residents recognised me for my DVD, and complimented me. One resident told me that he bought two DVD's. I felt humbled but happy that I brought some cheer to those who bought my DVD.

Towards the end of the function, there was a lucky draw. I stood in front ready to shoot the winners. Lo and behold, my wife won the third prize of a bottle of Dom Perignon Vintage 1989 Champagne! This Champagne is the most expensive in the market and made famous by James Bond, with prices going from a few hundred dollars to a thousand.

What happened next caused me some embarrassment. Announcing the next top prize of a Raffles Hamper, the draw was made and to my utter surprise, my name was called. The lady conducting the draw assured everyone that it was a truly lucky draw. I was dumbfounded and embarrassed. Anyway I went up to receive the prize while someone took my picture instead. The second hamper was won by somebody, so it was not that bad we did not monopolise the draw. But what surprised me most was that, I did not submit my name for the draw. Some kind soul must have submitted for me or it was staged for me to win. I usually do not have luck with draws. Anyway I accepted the hamper in good faith and grace with thanks to Citibank.

My next event is the Credo high tea on 15th March, in which my pictures will again be featured. Credo, who handled our en bloc sale, is giving the residents 'high tea'. My pictures will be featured in souvenirs like key chains, coffee mugs, mouse pads, magnets and jig saw puzzles. In addition, I am contributing 100 of my DVD for sale. All the proceeds will go to the Kidney Dialysis Foundation and the ST Children Pocket Money Fund. A noble cause of which I am in full support. It makes me happy to help out. I am looking forward to this. Watch my blog.

A piece of good news from the lawyers. Our sale will complete by 10 March and the funds will be available on 12 March.

I had reported earlier that I was not able to send SMS. Too complicated! Well, today I sent my first SMS to my son, who is currently in Cuba. Surprised my daughters no end. I also SMS a reply to Citibank. So I am not so dumb after all.

Till then....

A 'Pen Cai' lunch

The Chinese New Year season is coming to a close and to cap it off, we had a family 'Pen Cai' lunch at the Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant yesterday, Sunday 17th February. Except for Jay, who had some visitors in town, everyone was there including Ben. It was also to celebrate the belated birthdays of Karen and Tim.

Several years ago, I saw a documentary on Hong Kong, which featured this dish. The Cantonese call this 'Poon Choy', which literally means tray or basin of vegetables. In Mandarin, it is known as 'pen cai'. Chinese cuisine, among the best in the world, refers to vegetable - 'choy' or 'cai', as a collective noun embodying both meat and vegetables set for the table. So when you go to a Chinese restaurant, the waiter or waitress will ask you what 'choy' or 'cai' you want to select from the menu. It does not necessarily mean only vegetables.

It has been reported that pen cai existed since the Song dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). When the Song emperor fled from the Mongol invaders and arrived at a village in Guangdong, the local folks collected all the best food from each household, and served them in large basins, because bowls were not big enough to hold all the food. Until recently only, has this dish now, been introduced in Singapore.

The Hong Kong documentary showed, how the dish was prepared, in layers of food being cooked and laid inside the basin. The selection of food is left to the imagination and skill of the chef, and is considered to be a one dish meal.

The Crystal Jade version was said to contain 18 varieties of delicacies relating to the auspices of the Chinese New Year. I was not able to itemised them (see picture above). However, I identified the baby abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, roast duck, moss fungus (fatt choy), yam, Yunnan ham, soya bean sheets (fu pei), white radish, wood ear (moke yee), scallop, octopus body, cabbage, pig trotters, and large black Chinese mushrooms, which I do not eat. They are significant in Chinese food philosophy, for example moss fungus signifies prosperity. The restaurant should have printed a write-up on the dish, itemising the selections and the significance of each item.

The taste was excellent. The Chinese black mushroom did not permeat into the other ingredients, which was a relief to me. I would compliment the chef because each ingredient requires delicate cooking skill. The baby abalone was soft and tender retaining its flavour. Cooking abalone is a specialist skill. Over cook, and it becomes tough and leathery. Sea cucumber disintegrate when over cooked. So it takes skill to combine all the ingredients into one.

The bill was expensive no doubt but I am not complaining. I made some money selling my DVD slide show and I am always happy to share a meal with the family. We spent a pleasant day browsing through the shops and having a drink together. The kids had a great time especially Emma, who was, as always, the centre of attraction. Samantha had her genuine 'har gow', and Tim received a brand new badminton racket with a case as his birthday present from the uncle. When it was time to disperse and go home, Emma was greatly distressed. She turned her face and was about to cry, but held on bravely. Poor Emma.

With all the Chinese New Year goodies and eating, I gained 1 kg. So I now have to get rid of this kilo. I actually have restrained myself, but unfortunately the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Till then....

Koong Hei Fatt Choy

A very 'Koong Hei Fatt Choy' to all of you who are reading this. A customary Cantonese greeting for the Lunar New Year.

This is the fourth day, as I sit down to write this new posting. This is also the last Chinese New Year celebration before I move to my new place. There seemed to be an increase in visitors to my estate, as people savour the final celebrations here. Some of my friends told me that they will be showing my DVD to their friends, to show them the beauty of the estate.

I find this year's celebrations to be very disappointing and subdued. Not much of a Chinese New Year spirit.

The eve happened to be Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent in the Catholic Church. At the 7 am Mass in church, I was busy serving Mass and having to gather my Communion Ministers to impose ashes at the end of Mass. Happily everything went off well and my new lady Communion Ministers performed well, this being their first time. Sadly this will probably be my last time as their leader, because I plan to leave the ministry in a few months time.

The family reunion dinner was held at the Golden Pheonix Restaurant at Gillman Heights - the highlight of the celebration. Everyone was there, including the maid except for Ben, who turned up late after he got back from KL. Poor guy had to work! Anyway it was a very pleasant family gathering albeit a rather short one. When we adjourned for dessert at Keppel, Emma had fallen asleep and had to go home.

First day of Chinese New Year began with the 7 am Mass in church. Again my team was on duty and after distributing Holy Communion, gave out Mandarin oranges to the congregation. We were all dressed in red except for the non Chinese Ministers. But it was alright as there was a lot of laughter and goodwill among all the races gathered there.

After reading the newspaper from front page to the last page, it was a long wait for the family to gather at home. As if by a silent signal, everyone turned up at noon, in their holiday togs. Emma looked cute in her tiny cheongsam for the first time. The very much anticipated exchange of 'Hoong Pau' followed, especially by the kids, followed by tea from my children, an old tradition. I used to do that to my parents when I was a boy. So I was surprised when my children observed that.

Soon it was time to set out to Liz and Kip's house for lunch, a practice which we have been doing every year. This is the only house I visit every Chinese New Year. Liz and I have been very close family friends since our school days in Ipoh. Liz had called me one day to remind me that, since our family elders have all gone, we are all that is left. A poignant point when she asked for continued support.

Liz and Kip live in a mansion, which is so big that it required a power sub station on its own. It was unfortunate to see Liz in a wheelchair, because she had strained her hips, when she was in New York recently. It was also nice to see Dick, John and Peter.

There was so much food and the buffet table was loaded with all things nice. As usual, I over ate! Funny when I ate the ham with curry. I tried to 'wolf' down my food in order to feed Emma her milk, but she managed to induce her aunty to feed her. I ended up with an uncomfortable bloated stomach due to the hurried eating.

I also met up with my brother to catch up on his health concerns. After munching on the tit bits after lunch, we finally decided to take our leave, by three in the afternoon. We all dispersed into various directions and had a quiet evening at home.

Second day, Friday, after the morning Mass, I had roti prata in the market with a friend. The market was deserted with a few stalls opened for business, mainly the Indians and Malay and a surprisingly Chinese stall selling nasi lemak. It would have been a mundane day, had it not been for a visit by my wife's niece, nephew and two hyperactive grand nephew, who all stayed for lunch. Surprisingly still, my son had decided to stay at home for the day. I had some heart stopping moments when the two kids tried to finger my Mr. Christmas circus movements. Must think about all this when I move to my new place. How to child proof all of them?

Third day, Saturday, had braised fish porridge for breakfast with my friend Denis in the market after church. I am going to miss this when the market closes for major renovation after 17 February. This porridge is only for fish lovers like Denis and myself, and had always been our favourite. Costing only $2.50, the porridge has two to three pieces of fish stomach, cooked with ginger. The meat is soft and succulent with quite a lot of bones like long darning needles. You can pull them out with your chopsticks or fingers and they are not that bothersome. When the market reopens, I would have moved out already. I will probably come back for it.

My brother-in-law and the wife visited us on the third day. It was good, for we had not seen each other for a long time. After lunch that day, I went down to 'Marks & Sparks' (Marks & Spencer) to buy my cereal muesli. I like this because it helps my bowel movement everyday since I have been taking it for breakfast. I eat a small bowl even if I eat something from the market.

Today being Sunday, it has been very quiet, and nobody visited us. I listened to the radio to the old time favourites and the vintage chart featured the top ten tunes of 1965, when I was still a bachelor in the Air Force. Ahhhhh!

My son stayed at home the whole day and went for evening Mass. He came home just as I was leaving for church this morning. He just went out. What a night person! Had a lot of washing up to do after dinner. I am getting sleepy and tired. So good night to all.

Till then....

OTAA !

One thing after another, that is what the title stands for. As I mentioned in my previous postings, this year started with a bit of a bang, when I bought my new property, closely followed by another which has since been cancelled.

With the ending of January and the start of February, Chinese New Year is just round the corner. So many things happening, sometimes I wonder whether I am coming or I am going.

My friend from church is still badgering me to buy her property, trying to sweeten up the deal. She is returning the deposit to me but making so many mistakes with my name on the cheque. I have to take a firm stand against the sale, because this could lead to a lot of misunderstanding and stress.

My son has been working on my new maisonette. He showed me his ideas and drawings knocking down walls and fixtures. He is having a field day, acting like a son of a 'millionaire father'! Ha! Ha! Very funny! He is also very busy with his work and being away so often.

As my estate will be going into oblivion by end of the year, I produced a DVD slide show of 215 pictures with audio background for the owners and residents of the estate. I made 200 copies of the DVD and put them up for sale at only $5.00 each. The sale has been good and I had very good response from everyone who bought. Posters with samples of my photographs were put up in every block, advertising the DVD's. I was told that some people felt nostalgic when they saw the DVD and some shed tears at the thought of leaving all these behind.

One morning, I was walking home from church when a passing car suddenly stopped, and the lady driver poked her head out excitedly calling to me to tell me that the DVD was fantastic! Certainly made my day. So far I have received money for 100 DVD and the rest are selling well, handled by the office and some volunteers. Very timely as I gave part of the money to my wife for Chinese New Year.

Next week is Ash Wednesday and Chinese New Year. Ash Wednesday this year happens to fall on eve of Chinese New Year, so the fasting and abstinence will be on Tuesday instead. I have to arrange my Communion Ministers to impose the ashes at the 7 am Mass. I am putting up three of the new women Communion Ministers so that they can experience the rites because next year, I will not be in charge anymore. On the first day of Chinese New Year, we have to give out Mandarin oranges to the congregation. So I arranged for my Communion Ministers to dress in red instead of the usual staid white. It will look and feel so much nicer.

Thought for the day: 'Thank God for your well being, and all that you have, instead of being miserable, and blaming others for your misery.'

Till then....

A set back.

After the rather euphoric last posting of buying two properties within two weeks, I now end up with only one.

Working on my investment property, i.e. for rental, I suddenly realised that time is against me. Although it has been said, that my funds will be available by 12 March, the reality is that it may be delayed. Calling the lawyers, I was told that out of 618 owners, 41 have yet to sign the documents transferring the title deeds over to the developer. The reasons are various ranging from bankruptcy to divorce. The lawyers were not able to commit to a definitive date. The danger I will face, is that, I may not be able to pay for the property if there is a delay beyond March.

This troubled me over the weekend, so much so that by Sunday, I decided not to pursue the purchase. Carefully writing my email refusing the purchase, I sent it out by Sunday evening, to all concerned.

This Monday morning, I met up with my lady friend in church, who offered me the property for sale, on her son's behalf. When I told her that I will not be purchasing the property, she promptly fainted in front of me! We were in a quiet corner of the church and there was no one around. At first when she told me that she was filling faint, I thought she was joking with me. Suddenly she keeled over and collapsed. I caught her in time and placed her on the floor bumping her head in the process.

Squatting by her side, I told her to relax and to rest for a while. A man walked by and asking what had happened, I told him that the lady had fainted. He wanted to call an ambulance but I told him that there was no need to. He then walked into the church. I was very worried that I could be accused of molesting the lady. I kept talking to her and she responded.

After several minutes, she told me that she was alright and was ready to get up. Putting my two arms under her armpits, I hauled her up and guided her to a seat. She asked me what had happened, and I told her she had fainted. She told me she had a blackout. And so I explained to her the rationale behind why I had to turn down her offer. She was quite adamant in me buying over her son's property, and I was adamant in not doing so. She finally told me that she would refund the deposit I made to her. I was very concerned for her well being, when she left for her car. What a dramatic morning! Why is she so insistant in my buying over her son's property?

Now I am only concern with one property, the one I am going to live in. Since the completion of the sale will be in May, I hope that the funds will be available by then. I have been told that the lawyers are striving to complete the sale by 10 March, the target date. I hope they will succeed. After that, I will be able to consider a second property to rent out.

Till then....