Year 2010

I would describe 2010 as a "Forgettable yet Unforgettable Year"...

It's finally over... Yet do I really look forward to 2011? Not really either... Just want to buckle down and do what I set out to do.. methodically.. nothing exciting really.

Did I make a wish like I usually do for the previous years? Nah.. not this year. Trust me.. it's of no use.. cos whatever i had wished for all these years will never come true for me.. ever

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year My Dear!! Miss You Much:)

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas, my Dear!! Greetings from Hong Kong!! Just turned midnight now and the streets are full!! Miss you much:):)

Huibin, Our Lovely Sister...

Hi Dear,

For selfish reasons, I have not gone into your blog or Huibin's blog to read for a long, long while; for I was afraid of opening up a wound in my heart that I’ve tried so hard to heal. But for some untold reasons, I’ve decided to take a look at her blog just a few moments ago; a good hard look. And I am really glad that I’ve done so for good reasons.

My eyes are now swelled with tears as I read through her entries about you. My feelings are mixed… really mixed now...

I can feel her immense grief when she writes about your untimely departure. I can feel the void now in her when she misses you, every now and then. I can feel her helplessness when she laments the inevitability of your passing. It breaks my heart.

I can also feel the joy in her when she reminisces the good old times… back then when both of were enjoying simple things in life together.. shopping, chit-chatting, doing manicures, perdicures, massages, having coffee, sharing secrets, books etc. I can feel the simple, pure, unconditional love your dear younger sister has for you. It warms and heals my heart more, more so than it has broken it.

Dear, you know her best… befitting the strong, unbreakable bond existing between you and her… She misses you as much as you miss her.

In a narrow sense, though both of you are not able to continue to enjoy those simple pleasures in life, physically together… but deep down inside you and Huibin, there is always this lil’ cosy corner where both of you can seek solace in when any of you needs someone to talk to; this lil' warm corner where both of you can still heartily laugh together, celebrating the simple joys in life; this lil' private corner where both of you can share secrets....

P.S. I m now using your MacBook and you've listed this lovely photo of you and Huibin as one of your favourite photos in iPhoto:

Four Seasons - Winter

You would always tell me how you wished you could live in places where you could experience the gradual change of the 4 seasons from Spring to Summer to Autumn and finally to the Winter.

Like most Singaporeans, we simply loathe the hot and humid weather throughout the year. Naturally, Winter and the festivities during the Christmas month of December appeal to most of us.. especially you. I can still recall the excitement you showed when we saw snow during our Hokkaido trip in the 2005 winter. We played with the snow, threw snowballs at each other and also witnessed a snow war between 2 groups of children, complete with shields to defend their own positions...

Now.. it's the start of your favourite season. To commemorate the start of this year's Winter season, I present to you one of your favourite symphonies.. Vivaldi - Four Seasons.. Winter



You have always loved the 4 seasons; I am sure you still are and that you can now travel freely around the world to experience them.. I would like to believe that...

Mrs MM Lee.. Rest in Peace...

Hey dear, Mrs MM Lee passed away peacefully on 2nd Oct. It was a sad day for many, including me. She's the woman behind our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. As Mr Lee had said, it's with her support, looking after the household that he can concentrate on building Singapore.

Was watching a TV tribute on Channel 8 for Mrs Lee. It warms my heart, watching many snippets of the lovely old couple, showing simple concern and affection for each other; holding hands, teasing each other, wiping perspiration off his forehead.

I really really envy them; they have taught us the importance of marriage and the meaning of the marriage vow:"Till Death Do Us Part"... I'm sure he's now torn, tormented by the thought that he'd lost someone so special, so important, so close in his life.

The pain is immeasurable, emotions erupt... but slowly.. warm thoughts of the past starts to flow; ever so lightly to ease the pain.

I like the part which Mr MM Lee quips, in one of his usual witty speeches:
"Western Way: Marry the Woman you Love. The Eastern Way: Love the Woman you Marry" He's glad that he did both.

And I must say I'm as glad as him...

Your Legacy Lives On...

Dear Wai-lin,
You know what makes you so special? Not only to me but to everyone else who knows you?

Recently, I had the chance to talk to a lot of your friends, relatives, colleagues, students…some of whom I’ve never spoken to before. Through our conversations, I come to realize that you have got this “universal appeal” which everyone remembers so fondly of. (Pardon my English and at this early hour I can’t think of “THE WORD” or “PHRASE” to better describe it). “以平常心对待所有人，事与物” will be a better phrase to convey what I meant. I shall attach in my next blog this Chinese online article that describes aptly what is meant by “平常心”。

By “universal appeal”, I mean you come across to everyone as a bubbly, cheerful, positive and sincere person; you embrace life with energy, like to look at things from a positive angle and thinks that every person has a good soul. It is with this common approach to life that you’ve touched so many people with the same graciousness, openness and sincerity. True enough, we are humans, not gods. We are not infallible and do grumble a bit when the goings get tough. But everyone who knows you, knows that when you faced difficulties, you would pick yourself up pretty fast and take up the challenges bravely. My dear, you are so special in this sense and to me, as your husband, you’ve taught and inspired me a lot. Thanks to your constant encouragements and words of wisdom, I am where I am today in my career and life. It might not be a great one but at least it’s something that I worked hard for with you and something both of us can be proud of.

And like what you think of others, you have a kind soul too. Couple with that, you have a big heart. Your mum will always recall how you had helped those needy tuition kids of yours when you’re still schooling. Most often, you would forgo the tuition fees or spend the fees on assessment books for your kids. When you heard about the Asian Tsunami which took away so many lives, you were saddened by the news and immediately prompted me to make donations via the OCBC online contribution. Closer to home and to school, you would always tell me how some of your foreign students come from poor families and the difficulties they have to face to come to Singapore to study…. just to name a few instances.

So today, after discussing with your kind boss Regina and your parents, we have decided to donate part of your estate to RGS for the benefits of any needy students. For a start, Regina has kindly discussed with me and suggested giving out awards to the foreign scholars; the group of students who are closest to your heart. It’s a befitting cause and I am so glad that the school has given us an opportunity to contribute to a great cause. As mentioned in my previous blog post, I am so happy and glad today that I can do something on your behalf that makes you proud and happy. I am sure that you will celebrate this piece of good news with us. We know that you’ve always wanted to help those needy, to inspire those who tries hard to achieve and to reward those who achieves great results through perseverance. We can’t think of a better way to carry on your legacy than to make this contribution on your behalf.

My dear wife, to me, I mourn your untimely death; you have so much to offer to the world around us, to the people around you, to those who need your help and attention. The void you left in me and in so many of us is immeasurable. It pains all of us to think of not having you around, not around physically in narrow sense. But then again, you are actually still close to our hearts; fond memories of you still lingering, bringing smiles to us when we recall your familiar smiles, gestures and voices.

I would like to spend most part of my remaining life to reminisce those little actions of yours which touched so many people. You have lived a fruitful life, albeit a short one. You’ve accomplish more than a lot of people. You’ve contributed more to the society than a lot of people. You’ve touched more lives than a lot of people, including me. We are so proud of you; you left the world standing tall. I salute you. Your legacy lives on…

Feel so happy today....

Dear, I have not felt so happy for the longest time. Can't contain my excitement that I'm writing in our blog from my iPhone! (cannot access blogspot from office). But sad thing is my iPhone battery is running very low now as I type. Will talk to you later... But trust me, I m going to tell you something that you'll be thrilled to hear. As long as we know that you'd be happy, all of us would be happy! Talk to you later... Hehe keep you in suspense for a while like you always do to me... Hehe