Contentment

Once upon a time, there was a girl that was born into a lower middle income family. She had all her needs met but not her all wants met which is sort of fine. One can't have everything in life. When she hit fifteen, her richer friends had Guess bags and she told herself that once she's able to buy that Guess bag, she'll be very happy.

So she got herself a part time job and subsequently she got herself a Guess bag. Well, she should be happy now, right? She was for the time being. Then she saw her friends with Coach bags and she thought to herself, yes, a Coach bag would make me happy. So at twenty, she got herself a Coach bag. Life went on, then she noticed, maybe a Kate Spade bag would make me happy now. And yes, she went to get herself one. And then she thought, maybe Gucci now, will make her happy.

Well, bags after bags and each bag more expensive than the last one. But at the end of the day, did the bag make her happy? Only the girl has the answer.

Well, the main character girl in the story could be me or anyone. I shared this analogy with a friend when we were talking about contentment. Yes, we set financial or material goals for ourselves and once we hit that goal, are we truly happy? And what makes us happy, honestly?

I used to have a shopping habit. Noticed that I used the word 'used'. When I first started working, I would shop whenever I felt down. To me, if I buy something, it would make me happy. Just that something. So sometimes it could be a lipstick, or sometimes a skirt or sometimes a bag. And if I had a really bad day, the purchases would be more. Yes, that moment of buying made me happy and then the purchases would be forgotten and when my credit card bills appear, my heart would sink and then the cycle would repeat. Was I really happy? No, I wasn't. I learnt the hard way. When I was moving to Hong Kong, I gave some of my stuff away. And some of my stuff still had price tags on it. It was after moving to Hong Kong that I learnt that stuff are stuff and stuff don't make me happy.

Yes, stuff don't make me happy. This morning on my facebook status I wrote this, 'I just realized that if I wore a different outfit every day, it would take more than a month more me to go through my wardrobe'. Well, this is excluding my winter clothes. Yes, I've that much of clothes. But do my clothes make me happy? No, I'm very proud to say that I'm now contented with whatever that I have. I've learnt over the years that God has so richly provided for me and material stuff does not make me happy. I am contented.

Recently, I told Babe that I was going to buy a bag from a store. He looked at me and laughed and said this, 'You do realize that I can afford to buy you a more expensive bag?' Well, the bag that I wanted was something like HK350 which is like SIN$60ish. Babe buys most of my bags. But I told him no. That bag that I wanted was big enough for me to carry to work. It could contain my Macbook and my lunch and if and when I get my Ipad, it would fit too. So I happily bought it and brought it to work. And I've found contentment. For the record, I never had a Guess bag.

Saying Goodbye

I guess part of living overseas or rather part of life is making friends and then saying bye to them. This week, I found out that a good friend of ours is moving back to Spore. I've known A since we were like six years old. We've known each other since kids. And I've gotten to know his girlfriend and now wife quite well over time. C is one of the rare ladies that has actually become a friend. For me, it's not common for me to be really good friends with my guy friends' wives. But C has become a really good friend. I guess having kids around the same age, sharing the same faith and genuinely enjoying each other's company play a part. So when she told me last week that they're moving back to Spore, I was kinda bummed. But then again I thought about it, at least they are moving back to Spore. We'll still be able to meet up and catch up.

The same week that A and C leave, there's another a couple that would be leaving HK for a year. They are another couple that have made a difference to our lives. But they'll be back so that's good. When I look back at the six years that I've been in HK, there have been quite a few friends that have left HK. I do miss them. They've moved back to their home countries or elsewhere. And sometimes I wonder when will I ever meet them again. I do miss them. I know with living abroad or with life, this happens. You make wonderful friends and before you know it, it's time to say goodbye. It sucks but this is life. But thank God for Facebook! That's how we keep in touch with each other's lives.

Yes, this is life. But I'm glad that I've gotten to meet and known these wonderful ladies. And I believe that God has placed everyone of these ladies in my life for a reason and I'm sure someday we will meet again.

Caring Teacher Awards

So early this morning as I sat on my white throne, I was reading Strait Times and came across this letter written to the Strait Times. After reading it, I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry or be angry. In other words, I was pretty lost for words.

So I started googling to find out the supposedly true story. Got to love Google. Anyway, manage to read the news or article on it. So how did I feel after reading? I felt glad that I no longer work for the same employer. Got a feeling that I might be unemployed for the rest of my life if I head back to Spore! Yes, I'm baffled, bewildered, flabbergasted, gobsmacked, speechless and yes the list goes on, why would anyone knowingly not be at his or her spouse bedside or at least be within hour's of driving distance away, just in case something happens. Sure, wife said, go! But surely, you would stay and be with her because I know that I sure would be right next to Babe if something like that happens to him.

And of course he was holding his tears when he dedicated the award to his wife. But what's the point? Yes, I do not know and understand the circumstances that he was in. But now that this award has been given, does the employer understands and knows that teachers would be under more pressure as this award sends a signal to teachers that serving the school and pupils are way more important than their own family. As it is, I know of ex-colleagues who are weekend parents because they do not have the time to look after their own children because of the immense amount of work load. And those that can afford it, take a huge pay cut to have their hours reduced so that they can spend time with their families. It's sad, freaking sad.

I thought about myself. I'm glad that I took myself out of that rat race. And I'm glad that I'm very clear with my current employer that my family is my priority. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I work later but most of the time, I'm home by 4.30. My time out with my friends have been reduced significantly and gym time is also reduced, not that I'm complaining for that bit. Recently, I met up with a friend who mentioned that a mutual friend of ours' son does not call her mummy. He refused as she works long hours and does not have as much time with him. When I heard about it, it broke my heart. Money cannot buy time and money cannot buy affections too. I rather earn lesser and cut back so that I can spend time with little Ba Ba. I enjoy the walks that we take, the coffees that I have at the coffeeshop with him, the time at the beach. Yes, every one of these precious moments that I have with him, means a lot to me. And time with Babe is very important too. I'm so glad that Babe is a family man. Nothing makes him happier than to be with us. My point is....please spend the time with your loved ones than to work like a dog and be given that award. That award can never bring back your dead spouse or child.

Happy Birthday Babe!

So today's Babe's birthday. And this year, I seriously ran out of ideas for a present for Babe. Guess that happens when you date for too long and you're heading towards the 10th wedding anniversary. Not that it's a bad thing but rather something really good. I'm glad to have someone like Babe and I'm really glad that I've married my soulmate. Sure, there are times that we disagree but ultimately we know that we love each other and that's all that matters. Thanks Babe for loving me all these years. I know that I'm not the easiest person to live and love but you still love me regardless. Love you!

And Babe is turning out to be such a great dad. He's such a hands on dad. Every Sunday, he'll take a bath with litte Ba Ba. Both of them would be in the tub talking and chilling with each other. He cuts his hair and some nights when I'm out with my friends for dinner, they hang out. Babe was just telling me the other night that he actually enjoys his nights with little Ba Ba. Whenever he has to travel, he would travel to schedule it that he won't miss the weekends and if he does miss the weekends, he'll make sure that he'll take a day off during the week just to hang out with little Ba Ba. I'm glad that Babe is my partner in this parenting thing.

My New Toy

So after months of sort of badgering Babe for months and weeks, he finally got me a Kitchenaid stand mixer. And I was over the moon! Super duper happy and excited. So for the very first bake to honor Babe was to bake something that he has always wanted me to make, curry puffs! Well, for the first or actually, the second attempt, it's not that bad. Turned out pretty okay and Babe was very glad with them.

And Raspberry (yes, so much for creativity) has been whirling and churning out bakes at least twice a week. And I try quite often to bake things that Babe likes to eat. He's not really a sweet tooth person unlike me. But so far, Babe has been happy with the bakes that I've baked for him. Who knows, someday, someday, this might be my retirement plan!

Raspberry, isn't she a beauty? Been dreaming of her
 for ages and ages and now! Can't believe that I've
 finally gotten her and it's in my fav colour too!
Thanks Babe! 

The first bake off Raspberry. Kinda oddly shaped curry puffs. We baked them instead of frying them.  

More curry puffs. They were better than the first batch.
Brought some to the Plus family to share with them.

No, it's not an UFO. It's my oddly shaped whoopie
pie. Meant to be Red Velvet but turned out more
chocolate than Red Velvet.

Babe's request, sausage roll bread.

With the extra dough left from the sausage bread roll,
I made cinnamon, chocolate and walnut bread.

Chocolate Muffin, they turned out pretty well. 

Side view of the bread.