Minecraft

 

 I am playing Minecraft with Isaac.  Isaac had been playing with Minecraft since he was 3 years old.  We had been playing Minecraft on various platforms -- ipad, computer and handphone.  Recently we purchased Minecraft again on the phone.  It cost $10.98.  

Playing on the phone is harder than using a desktop.  When I played with the phone, I can drop my phone!  Playing on the desktop is easier and you have a larger view too.  

There are two modes to play in Minecraft -- Creative mode and survival mode.  Both modes are fun in their own ways.  Isaac helped me and taught me many things.  He helped me to build houses and farms.  He also suggested to build aquarium and Mcdonald's.   In Survival Mode, we had to chop trees to gather woods to build house.  Then we went mining to search for gold, emerald, diamond, redstones and coal.  

It's a fun game very similar to second life.  But I would think that children should play Minecraft.  Second life is more for adults.  I have not sign in to Second life for a long time.  Maybe some day I would log in again.  

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Roborovski Hamster

 I used to have Roborovski Hamsters too.  From 2 hamsters, Mopsy and Clopsy, they bred into many generations of Robo hamsters.  I gave the babies to my niece and sister.  The video above shows Mopsy and Clopsy and their babies.  

There were more photographs of the hamsters.  We documented the development of the babies growth everyday, but it was in my old laptop.  One day, Isaac spilt water onto my computer and the whole computer was not functional anymore.  Not even when it was dried.  So all the photographs in the year 2014-2017 were gone.  

It was Isaac and Clara's idea to buy the hamsters, but in the end I am the one changing the bedding, taking care of the hamsters.  Isaac was too young then to do all the work.  But now Isaac and Clara take care of the terrapins all by themselves.  Everyday Isaac fed the terrapins and every week they will wash the tank for the terrapins.  As for Dora, both Isaac and me help to bath for her once a month.  

For the hamsters, I changed the bedding once every month.  When there were too many hamsters, I had two boxes of hamsters.  After that, they gave birth, and I transferred the male one out of the box otherwise the father would attack the babies.  

Now we cannot have hamsters because Dora would probably hurt them unless the hamsters are caged up.  Anyway, I think having terrapins and a cat is enough for now.  

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Sunbirds

 

Watch the video on the Sunbird and hatchlings or baby birds, videos and photographs taken on February 2020

  Sunbirds are tropical nectar-sipping birds belonging to the family Nectariniidae. Some members of the family are called "spiderhunters", but all are considered to be "sunbirds".  Like unrelated hummingbirds, they feed primarily on nectar. However, most sunbirds have curved bills and perch to feed rather than hover like hummingbirds. 

 A sunbird dips its curved bill into a flower or else pierces its base and then sips nectar using a long, tubular tongue. Sunbirds also eat fruit, small insects, and spiders. While hummingbirds hover to feed, sunbirds land and perch on flower stalks. 

 Female sunbirds use spiderwebs, leaves, and twigs to build purse-shaped nests and suspend them from branches. However, spiderhunter nests are woven cups attached beneath large leaves. The female lays up to four eggs. Except for spiderhunters, only sunbird females incubate the eggs. Purple sunbird eggs hatch after 15 to 17 days. Male sunbirds help rear the nestlings. Sunbirds live between 16 and 22 years. 

 

Discovered the loose strands of fibres on the branches (25 March 2021), the sunbirds came to build nest again!

29 March 2021 the shape of the bird nest can roughly to be seen now

Nests are constructed by female sunbirds. They are compact, purse-shaped shelters suspended from tree branches with a single central entrance. A variety of fibers are used in nest construction, including bark, twigs, dried grass, leaves, vegetable down, plants stems, feathers, and snakeskin. It is tightly bound with spider’s silk, especially at the entrance and where it is attached to a branch.

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My Favicon

Photograph of my favicon for Happiness For Life

 

Just want to mention my favicon for this blog, Happiness For Life.  It is a woman looking up to an angel.  This angel can be the guardian angel, or it can also be Jesus, the king of angels.  The woman looking at the higher superior being is readily abiding by all the words given by the angel or Jesus, the one who will show the truth, the Way and the Life.  

Photograph of Jesus carrying the woman who needs help

Photograph of Jesus trying to rescue the lost sheep

Why does the woman have so much respect for the king of angel?  This is because He had come to the rescue in times of need.  The woman was dead and was being rescued.  The woman was lost and was found.  All thanks to Jesus.  

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. 

 “But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” John 6:68.

You can see at my Peace Nature YouTube channel: I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  Proverbs 4:11  So these are the words that were uttered to the woman.  

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Cebest

 

Photograph of the family in 2003

Life is so unpredictable.  One moment he was gone, another moment he came back.  Then now he is gone again.  Now, he is remarried...  I bought a Schnauzer for him in the year 2003.  Woe to me, I bought a dog instead of keeping a baby!  I never know that I would have 3 children next.  I never know that Cebest had such a short life also...

Ah Kew, his friend, happened to have a car that day.  Richard borrowed the car, and we went to see dogs at Pasir Ris.  We came across the only 'black' Schnauzer there, so cute and loveable.  It was love at first sight.  So I bought it for him.  Back home, we thought of a name for him.  'See the best' which is Cebest.  We paid only $2000 at that time to buy Cebest.  

Photograph of Cebest lying on the bed

Now, Isaac wishes to have a dog.  We went to the pet shop to see dogs.  He likes a Dachshund so much.  I asked the shopkeeper for the price and it was so incredible.  A Dachshund now cost $13000!!!!  It was simply too expensive.  We could not afford it.  And Isaac was so sad.  

Anyway, we had Cebest with us for 3 years.  We lost him after the yearly vaccination.  After vaccination, one day, he saw 'something' coming in from the main door.  He was barking non-stop at the air.  He saw something which we could not see.  The 'thing' came into our room.  He followed.  Then after that his health deteriorated.  The 'thing' might be the death angel that came to bring him away from us.  He always hide in the store room and his appetite was no good.  He refused to eat.  I wanted to bring him to the vet, but Richard said, "wait and see."  But in the end, in the early morning, dawn time, we had to rush him to the vet, which was too late.  He died at the clinic.  

 

 I was so sad for weeks.  It was the year 2006 that we lost him.  After that we do not have anymore dogs in our lives.  In the year 2007, I had occasions where my legs 'kick' on something at the end of the bed.  I also heard bells.  It seemed that Cebest had come back.  I was 'converted' as well.  And in the year 2008, my faith had saved me...

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Baby

 

Photograph of Baby, my first dog, a Shih Tzu

My first dog that I had was this dog, above, named Baby.  Richard drove to the pet shop at Balestier Road one day.  The shop owner chose this dog for us, put him in a pen, and we saw him playing so actively with the other dogs.  So we decided to buy him.  It was a gift from Richard.  Richard paid for the dog and on that day he won lottery, gaining the money back... 

I doted on him so much.  Baby was so pampered.  I bought him fresh pork to eat everyday.  I cut up the meat and boiled them for him.  He always finished the food.  Sometimes I gave him minced meat too.  He was so used to eating fresh pork that he did not want to eat dried food that was given to him.  Every week I bathed him too. We would bring him to Fu Shan Garden for a walk as well.

Look at the photograph above, he was so proud.  We specially bought the red cap from Bangkok.  If you want to buy a similar cap, Lazada has this red cap that looks nice.  Check it out here. 

Photograph of Baby and me

Baby loved to guard the door.  He always laid at the door, whenever any strangers walked past, he would bark at them.  He was such a passionate dog as well.  He loved to kiss me, as can be seen from the photograph below. 

Photograph of Baby kissing me

I had Baby before I was pregnant.  During my pregnancy, I was not able to tend to him at all.  In the end, we had to give him away.  My fifth uncle adopted him.  After that, it was known that Baby was too fierce, his temper was so bad and they had to give him away to other people.  That was the last news I heard of him.  Forever missed you Baby.  

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Buy Me Tea

 

Photograph of a glass of ginger tea

I love to drink tea -- chinese tea and ginger tea.  On the above, you can see a glass of ginger tea.  I buy ginger from the market normally.  Ginger from the supermarket is normally not that nice.  I peel the skin and sliced the ginger then I add water and finally boil them (as shown below).  

Photograph of sliced ginger boil in water in a pot

Besides ginger tea, I love chinese tea too.  I purchase them from Lazada -- Tie Guan Yin tea.  Click on this link if you want to buy Tie Guan Yin Chinese Tea.  If you want instant ginger tea, click on this link here.  Buying instant ginger tea is very convenient because you don't have to wash and cut the ginger.  You only need to open the packet and add hot water to it.  

Benefits of Ginger Tea:

1.  Cure Motion Sickness or whenever you feel nauseous

2.  Helps in curing stomach bloatedness

3.  Ginger is known to treat joint inflammation

4.  improves blood circulation in the body

5.  reduce the risk of stroke

6.  keeps the body warm since it is spicy

There are definitely more usefulness of the ginger tea.  The above listed are just a few of them.  

Photograph of Chinese Tea, Tie Guan Yin, purchased from Lazada

The above photograph shows the Chinese Tea, Tie Guan Yin that I purchased from Lazada.  They are packed individually and you just need to open a packet and add hot water to it.  It's just so convenient to drink it.  If you want to buy Tie Guan Yin from Lazada, click on this link here.  

If you would like to buy me tea, click on the link!

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Dogs Cafe

 

Photograph of me playing with the bulldog

In December, Isaac wanted a dog so badly.  He wanted to buy a dog, but we already have a cat!  How will it be like to have a dog?  He did not even touch a dog before.  So Clara suggested that we go to the dogs cafe at Bugis, We are the Furballs.  

On the first trip there, we did not know that we need to book a timing.  So we booked a slot for January to go back again.  Isaac was so disappointed that he was not able to enter that day.  

The day finally came.  Isaac was so excited.  We were finally able to see dogs!

Photograph of Clara and Isaac feeding the Dachshund.

When we reached there, we need to queue up again.  Then we paid the entrance fees and read the rules and regulations.  Then we ordered our drinks.  There were quite a number of rules.   The ones that I can remember is that we are not supposed to carry the dogs.  Something that is not at all fun to do.  So with these restrictions, we only can look at the dogs.  There were not many dogs inside and the place is not too big.  The only fun thing that we can do inside is to feed the dogs, which we need to buy the food from them.  

Photograph of the sick Shih Tzu, Clara trying to feed it.

Not all the dogs are healthy.  This Shih Tzu, shown above was sick.  He was 'bedridden' and was not able to move about.  

So that was a first time experience at the dogs cafe!

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Emotions

 

Photograph of the scenery observed from the corridor of 37th floor of MBS

We had a holiday staycation at Marina Bay Sand this year on 3 January 2021 to 5 January 2021.  It was a very last minute booking because the hotel informed my mother very late.  As soon as I received the news that we were able to book for the hotel, I quickly called up to ask and began to book for a room.  The hotel staff was very approachable and courteous in answering the phone call.  They were very patient as well.  So through the phone, I finally booked the room.  

At home, we quickly packed our belongings, had a total of 2 luggage in total.  We were excited about the staycation.  We had only 3 person going to stay over there -- Clara, Isaac and me.  We cannot have the whole family to go because we need to think of Dora.  There was no one to babysit Dora!  So in the end, Ricsson would stay at home to look after Dora.  

Soon the day arrived.  We took a cab to MBS.  My mother was there to book in the hotel.  We had our keys and proceed to the room next.  At the corridor, we could see the Singapore Flyer as seen in the photograph above.  Inside the hotel room, we were able to see Gardens By the Bay as seen in the photograph below.

Photograph of the scenery observed from balcony of the hotel room at 37th floor of MBS

Photograph of the Isaac playing the Nintendo switch 

Inside the hotel, the children played Nintendo switch.  We took photographs of the wonderful view from the balcony.  Our hotel room was on the 37th floor, so the view was amazing.  The first two days, there were no sunlight, as it was rather cloudy.  On the third day, we were able to see the sun finally as shown in the photograph above.  

We went to the Satay Club to eat satays on the first night at the hotel.  On the second night, we walked around the hotel premises.  We were so happy enjoying this wonderful opportunities to be able to stay at the hotel.  However, back home, someone was missing us...

Photograph of Dora at home waiting for us

Ricsson took photograph of Dora and sent to us the photograph above.  Dora did not eat her food the whole day.  She was missing us.  She looked so sad in the photograph above.  It really pained my heart to see her looking so sad.  Tears filled my eyes when I saw the photograph.  I was hoping to go home quickly to see her.  

On the last day of the staycation, we packed our things and took a cab home.  It was sad to leave the place, but we were eager to go home to meet Dora!  

When we reached home, Dora was so excited to see us.  She greeted us with a "Meow" at the door when we opened the door.  We loved our adorable Dora so much.   

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Water Moss

 

Picture of the water moss that I saw in the terrapins tank

Life is so amazing.  With life, so many amazing things can happen even without us knowing it.  It was simply incredible at times.  

The terrapins tank comes with a transparent cover as shown in the picture below: 

Photograph of the terrapins tank with a cover above it

Everyday Dora was so amazed at the terrapins as well.  She would sit down close by the tank and observe the terrapins.  Now she had learned to open the cover of the tank!  Imagine a cat with four legs, without hands, just legs, but they had tried to use their forelegs as hands!  Dora used her forelegs or 'hands', using her claws to lift up the cover!  How smart of her!  

After lifting up the cover, she licked the terrapins!  This is her way of learning more about these new friends in the water.  

Anyway, the water in the tank was not changed for more than a week.  So the white pebbles contains algae and a stalk of moss was found!  So amazing, a stalk of moss with stalk and leaves in the water just appear out of nowhere!  It was regeneration -- Just like how maggots appear in a closed bottle if the banana was left to rot in it.  This is the first time I see a water moss grown in water.  It was marvellous.  

Photograph showing the water moss grown in the water

I had taken a photograph of the water moss as shown in the picture above, however, it was too small to be seen clearly.  So I had sketched a drawing of the moss on the uppermost picture of this post.  

We planned to grow the moss, we did not throw it away.  Yesterday, the children changed the water and wash the pebbles for the terrapins.  After that, they put the moss back into the water.  But today it was gone.  Maybe the terrapins ate it up.  

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Grabfood or Foodpanda

 

Photograph of Foodpanda short-sleeve T-shirt

Photograph of Foodpanda long-sleeve T-shirt in the package

Which company should I join?  That was my question initially.  Searching on the web, I find that there seems to be more people joining Grabfood.  There were more Grabfood riders on the road too.  I can see more Grabfood riders at Causeway Point than Foodpanda too.  

At home, I often ordered from Grabfood more than Foodpanda too.  One day I come across Grabfood's advertisement asking to sign up as Grabfood rider.  I did not know whether I should try it.  However after sometime, I decided to give it a try.  So I signed up for Grabfood rider.  I filled up all my particulars.  But then I was stucked with the next step -- the upload of photograph.  They required me to take a photograph of myself with the background to be white.  That was too tedious.  

So the time passed.  One day, I came across Foodpanda's advertisement asking people to sign up as riders.  I filled up the form and submit it.  A few days later, someone called me from Foodpanda.  They wanted to verify my details and they checked my paylah accounts.  So everything was just so simple for Foodpanda.  Then I need to buy their equipments then I can start work.  So I went on to purchase the bicycle set/ cyclist backpack, which I had to fork out $90 before I can earn money. 

To date, I have not break even yet.  On Sunday (21 March 2021) I just earn $60.81 sacrificing 7 hrs 14min of my time working as Foodpanda rider.   But I will still continue to work for Foodpanda because I am getting paid to exercise!

On the day of my work, I wore the short-sleeve shirt.  The whether was so hot and it would be too hot to wear the long-sleeve shirt.  I purchased the biggest size which is 4XL.  I think I am not going to wear the long-sleeve shirt and the jacket.  I should have purchased just 2 pieces of short-sleeve T-shirts instead.  

Till now, I am still happy working with Foodpanda.  If you want to sign up for Foodpanda Rider, follow this URL -- https://to.foodpanda.com/a/zuz5ds8  This will lead u to the sign up page, you click just need to click the 'apply' button.  

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Get Paid To Exercise

 So how was it like on the first day of working for Foodpanda?  This time I went to Causeway Point to start my shift, since there were many riders over there, so I just followed.  So it worked!  There, I was so fast to get my first customer on the app and I just parked my bicycle and walked to the shop to collect the food.  After I had collected the food, I click on 'pick up' on the app and then the next job is to 'drop off'.  

Upon picking up the food, I walked to the bicycle and started cycling to the block number that was shown in the app.  Yesterday I worked for 7 hours.  Sometimes the distance to deliver is shorter and sometimes it was extremely long.  However, the earnings were kept constant at around $4 plus.  After 'dropping off' the food at customer's place, I had to cycle back to the 'centre zone'.  I had no idea where the 'centre zone' was, but just went back to Causeway Point.  

Generally I had constant deliveries coming in.  However at 11am to 1130am, I was idle.  There was no deliveries at all.  I saw that there were so many Grabfood riders around, but few Foodpanda riders.  At this timing when I was idle, I saw some Grabfood riders being idle as well.  So it was an unproductive time for me.  

Being cycling, I need to know my limits.  I was given a very far place of deliveries, a place which I was not familiar at 1130am.  It was admiralty road.  So I had to reject it.  It was no good to reject an order but I had no choice.  This will affect my acceptance rate.  

Yesterday, I tried to accept all the orders except for one mentioned above.  At the end of the day, finishing my shift I was dead tired, because there were steep slope at Marsiling 'hill point'.  I am not going to accept this area next time.  It was not worthwhile considering the same amount of money earn, which was $4 plus only.  

On average, within one hour, I just earn an average of $8.70, having two deliveries.  So for the seven hours that I worked yesterday, my earning was $60.81.  I had thirteen deliveries, some collected cash and some on cards.  

Photograph of my earnings from yesterday working as Foodpanda rider

So it was a strenuous exercise for me yesterday.  I was getting paid to exercise!

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Foodpanda Shifts

 Yesterday I started work with Foodpanda.  They have an incentive of $100 for me if I complete 50 deliveries within 2 weeks from the day I ordered my equipments.  But I had lost one week already.  In the beginning, I did not know how to start.  I thought that I can work anytime I wish to.  However it was not like that.  There were shifts (timing) for you to book before you can start work.  So when I wanted to start, it was delayed since I did not know that I need to book for shifts.

Then on the day of my shift, I login to the system, which is called the roadrunner app, I cannot start work still.  The app said that I was not at starting point.  I had a chat with the support, and the support asked me to delete and reinstall the roadrunner app.  I did that and still I cannot start work.  I asked them on the app, 'where is the starting point?'.   They did not answer me and they end the conversation.  I tried a few times and it all ended in closing the conversation.  So in the end, I did not start work on that shift.  

As regards to booking of shift, the availability of the day time shift work was little.  I only manage to get day time shift on Sunday which was yesterday.  The remainder of the shift that was available for booking were all after midnight.  I did not want to work in 'darkness' as it was dangerous if I should cycle on the road.  

Photograph of the car that knocked me down on 1 August 2020 at around 7am

The driver said, "I couldn't see you!"  He said it was dark.  So you see, it was dangerous to cycle in the darkness of the morning.  So I tried not to work in the darkness of the morning or even at night.  

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Foodpanda Rider

Photograph showing my bicycle with the warmer box attached on it.

 My Foodpanda equipment arrived on 12 March 2021, about 3 days after I ordered it.  So it was quite fast.  I spent about $90 for the whole set of equipments --the above is the cyclist backpack, then I have regular thermal bag and Halal thermal bag, short-sleeve shirt and long-sleeve shirt, and a rain set jacket.  

Photograph showing the Halal thermal bag.

Photograph showing the normal thermal bag with Dora being so curious to see what was it.

Dora was so curious as always of new things.  She would come sniff what was the items.  She was also very curious about the terrapins -- always taking out the cover and use her 'hands' to touch the terrapins.

Mounting the backpack on my bicycle was a problem.  There was no hook or metal loop at the basement of the backpack.  I see that the grabfood backpack comes with metal loop so that the backpack can be secured to the back of bicycle.  So I used my own ways to finally secured on the bicycle, but it was not so stable.  

With that I was all ready to earn money!

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2 is enough

 

Singapore's 2 is enough policy in the early years

Singaporeans are mostly law abiding and tends to 'listen' to the government.  Otherwise there would be fines.  So whatever they said people would tend to abide by them.  How many women in my family follow this policy?  My sister has 2 children, my sister-in-law also has two children.  I used to think of only having 2 children too.  However, I was wrong.

Photograph of my new family portrait

At the age of 38 I gave birth to another tiny human being.  I had to carry my cross and bare all hardship to juggle my pregnancy with caring for the home and children.  How precious is a life?  

I had Isaac in my womb for nine months.  I did not know how much it means to me until I was almost losing it at the time of birth.  

There was bleeding and I quickly went to the hospital with Richard.  At the hospital, I was asked to lay in the bed to rest.  

Photograph of me at Mount Alvernia Hospital 2009

I stayed there for almost one two days and one night then I was pushed to the delivery ward.  Over there, I still need to wait for the uterus to open up.  It was early in the morning when I still need to wait for the doctor to arrive.  By the time I had epidural and the doctor came it was quite some time.  Finally the baby came out from my womb.  

Isaac cried and the nurse carried him to show me.  However later on, the doctor and nurse seemed to be doing something which I did not know.  Later on I was informed by the doctor that the baby was in critical state.  He was in the womb for too long, and he had eaten his own feaces.  The baby was a bit blue.  The doctor said the baby need to be pushed to the critical care unit.  

At that moment, I was so scared of losing him.  I did not want to carry him for nine months and lost him in the end.  We prayed.  I called home to the children and told them about it.  I asked them to help to pray too.  Luckily, soon Isaac was fine ultimately.  We thanked God that he was well at that moment.  

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Isaac's Baptism

 

The priest baptizes by pouring water on the forehead of the baby to be baptized and saying the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  

Baptism is the first Sacrament out of the seven.  It is the customs of Catholic to baptize their children after birth (Baby Baptism).  I did not immediately baptize Isaac after birth.  This is because after childbirth, the wounds still hurt and we need to attend one or two session of baptism class or briefings.  So it was like I can procrastinate in baptizing Isaac.  

So the thought of when to baptize Isaac was on my mind.  Then one night, when Richard was not at home, I was alone in the room with Isaac.  I was carrying Isaac in my lap.  Suddenly there was like got something that was 'disturbing' Isaac.  Isaac cried and my computer became blue screen as well.  From that moment, I was so scared and I quickly arranged for him to be baptized.  

Baptism means 'plunging'.  Jesus was baptised in the Jordan by John.  The sign of the Spirit was seen.  And the Father's voice was heard: "This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him."  (Matthew 3:17)

Jesus called his death and resurrection a 'baptism'.  To his apostles he said, "Are you willing to be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised?"  In this baptism Jesus was 'plunged' into death but the Father raised him up by giving him the Holy Spirit.  

Baptism is also the sign instituted by Christ to unite us with his own baptism.  What happened at Christ's baptism is what happens at ours: so that St Paul could write, "When we were baptised in Christ Jesus, we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too might live a new life."  (Romans 6:3,4)

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My grandfather

 

Photograph of my maternal grandfather

This is my maternal grandfather.  He died on 13.1.2002. During his funeral mass, Amazing Grace was sung. It was a sad occasion, everyone crying and my mother was so sad. This song was sung but it was just a nice and beautiful song at that time. But it is a meaningful and relevant song to me after Jesus came, on 8th March 2008 (God and Jesus came...). Some months ago (in 14 August 2017), I dreamt of my grandfather. In the dream, he told me his name was Joseph Lee. I woke up to check if his name and surname was really Joseph Lee. Indeed it was. I never know he was named Joseph.  

My grandfather and grandmother were siblings.  He loved to play mahjong with my mum.  He worked as a sugar cane delivery man, delivered sugar cane to drink stalls.  My second aunt used to be working in the drink stall with her husband.  My parents and I went usually visited them at the stall.  Sometimes over there I would see my grandfather.  

I went to the hospital with my sister to see my grandfather before he died.  At that time I was still separated with Richard.  It was somewhere around May 2002 that he came back to the family.  His sudden returned disrupted my life then.  However I still welcomed him because the children will have a complete home...  

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My Grandmother

Photographs showing the grave of my grandmother, Lee Miou Inn

 My grandmother died on 23 March 1988.  Her grave is at Lim Chu Kang cemetery.  I did not take these photograph, but it was shared in the Lim cousin's whatsapp group.  I had taken her grave's photograph, but I can't remember when was that.  She was just 68 years old when she died.  

Grandmother was a smoker.  She would come to our house to sit on the chair and smoke.  But the first thing when she arrived at our house was to wash her feet and wash her hands.  I wonder if she had OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).  She had the habit of always washing her hands and feet.  Sitting on the sofa, she would ask my sister to cut her fingernails.  

Normally she would come to our house after church on Sunday.  She would knock so loudly at our door.  Most of the time, in her hands were some leaves (a kind of Aloe Vera).  She would ask my mother to boil for her to drink.  She also loved to drink the chinese medicine, Five Pagoda Powder.  

After her death, the funeral over, our house was filled with big Moths (Black and white colour).  There were so many so many moths, it was so amazing.  So whenever I saw that kind of moths it would remind me of my grandmother.  

 

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Holy Communion

 

Family photograph taken before the year 1988

Every time when I mention about Holy Communion, I would remember my paternal grandmother.  She is sitting with my grandfather in the photograph above.  What is Holy Communion?

Photograph of me receiving Jesus the first time, My First Holy Communion

Even though I was taught about this Holy Communion in Catechism:

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and gave it to His disciples, and said, "Take this, all of you, and eat it: This is My Body which will be given up for you."

When supper was ended, He took the cup.  Again He gave thanks and praise, gave the cup to His disciples, and said, "Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of My Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant.  It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.  Do this in memory of Me."

I was not aware that I was receiving Jesus at that time.  It was just bread I received in my mouth then.  It got soften with saliva and I just swallowed it.  After that, I went to the pew to pray.  So every time we go church, this is the main thing that we do, the reason why we go church.  

Our Lord changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood and offered Himself to God.  This was a sacrifice.  This was His Body to be offered on the Cross.  This was His Blood to be shed for the forgiveness of sins.  He told the Apostles that He would die on the next day.  That would be the bloody sacrifice on the Cross.  

But Jesus wanted this unbloody sacrifice to continue on earth till the end of time.  When He told the Apostles to do as He had done, He made them priests and gave them power to offer this sacrifice.  

So when I was young, I often saw my grandmother asking the priest to give her Holy Communion, whether it was mass time or outside mass timing.  She always liked to come to our house, wearing slippers and she would always washed her feet in our toilet.  The next thing that she like would be washing her hands too.  

I was told that my grandmother passed away peacefully 'in her sleep' in the year 1988.  Look at the family photograph above.  The years have passed.  Four people were not here anymore.  They were my grandparents, my father and my third maternal uncle. And I was 'dead' and was 'raised' again...

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Caring For Terrapins

 

Photograph of Terrapins, Opal and Oscar, swimming in the water

When I was young, I wanted to keep chicken so much.  I cried and my mother bought them for me in the end.  I care for the chicken totally by myself -- putting them in boxes, lining the boxes with newspaper, changing them as and when dirty, giving them food and playing with them.  I had tortoises, which my mother helped to feed and change the water.  

In my home, the tortoises or terrapins belong to Isaac.  I did not do anything for him.  I left everything for him to do.  He followed the instructions given by the shopkeeper, putting the water level at its minimum at the fourth staircase of the tank.  It was so little and the tortoise was not able to swim.  I remembered mine was submerged in water and the tortoise was able to swim.  Mine grew so big and ate a lot of food.  My mum helped to feed it with live prawns (cut into small pieces) and they love it.  Sometimes the terrapins will eat kang kong (vegetable) as well.  In my preschool, they feed the terrapin cabbage at times.  

For a about a week the terrapins live in shallow water until one day Clara helped to put in seashells and a big rock and asked Isaac to put in more water.  They changed the water on that day.  The shopkeeper suggested to change the water every 2 days.  However we see that the water was not dirty at all.  So the water was changed about a week ago.  Now that the water level was higher now, the terrapins are able to swim in it.  

The children were scared that the terrapins will get drown.  They even searched for answers on the web.  But based on my experience, my terrapins were covered with water, so high.  They were placed in a round basin at that time, something that the house has and we did not even go to the pet shop to buy.  It was a very big basin and the water level was very high so that the tortoise can swim.  So the tortoise did not drown!  

As seen in the photograph below, you can see a rock.  The children placed a big rock in the water and the tortoise was able to swim, and able to rest on the rock too.  

Photograph to show the water level that is covering the terrapins

As for food, buy the XO Turtle Sticks as shown below: 

Photograph showing XO Turtle food sticks for the terrapins to eat

One last thing, remember to add in Ammonia Detox for the water.  Follow instructions on the bottle -- mix a drop of Ammonia Detox to one litre of water.  

 

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Terrapins

 

 These are Opal and Oscar.  Opal is the female terrapin while Oscar is the male terrapin.  Female terrapin is always bigger than the male terrapin, as told by the shopkeeper.  He helped us to select the two different sexes, after our request.  

The shopkeeper was quite nice.  He chose everything for us, all the necessary items.  He even taught Isaac how and when to change the water for the terrapins.  The school counsellor had given us the tank, pebbles, solution and food.  But Isaac wanted to buy ourselves and return those things to the counsellor.  So we bought the Japanese white pebbles, the tortoise tank, tortoise food and Ammonia Detox.  And everything cost us $38.  My mum said, "You buy the tortoise and I will pay for it.  Tell Isaac to go school everyday."  In the end, my mother passed me a $50 note.  

Photograph of the food we giving to the terrapins and the Ammonia Detox we put in the water of the terrapins.

The Ammonia Detox helps to stabilize the water and to prevent diseases for the terrapins -- Anti white spot, Anti fungus and so on.  More specifically it read like these for its indication --

Ammonia Detox conditioner: removes harmful ammonia, chlorine and chloramines.  It can be use for all types of fishes, shrimps and invertebrates.  Ammonia level in aquaria can rise to dangerous levels due to poor filtration, overstocking, overfeeding or lack of water change.  This can cause unnecessary stress, outbreak of disease and even death to the fishes.  Ammonia Detox is a fast and effective way to eliminate ammonia from water, making water safe to use and prolong the water changes interval without the risk of ammonia poisoning.  Regular use prevents ammonia poisoning in live fish shipping.  Use regularly to improve fish conditions.  

As for Food we use XO Turtle Food Sticks: This brand is very good.  I purchase this because when I was a preschool teacher, I bought this for the school terrapin too, and the terrapin was well.  Similarly, it is almost 2 weeks plus already, or 15 days already and the tortoise looks so healthy and lively in the water.  Isaac told me they were able to eat 4 pellets now!  Previously they ate 2 per day.  

About XO Turtle Food Sticks: Latest formula ensuring every requirement of reptile nutrition, fortified with vitamins and calcium.  Promotes colour, health and growth.  The food is designed to float, easy to digest and assimilate, also accepted willingly by all turtles.  Does not cloud water.  Feed w or 3 times daily.  Remove any excess left over food.  Ingredients --Fish meal, wheat flour, oat, shrimps meal, algae meal, calcium photosphate colours, fish livers, spirulina etc. 

Photograph of the terrapins 'tools' or apparatus.  

This is a normal fish tank or terrapins tank.  My previous school used this type of tank too.  But as for the food, I fed Mumbo with the food, I never ever see him eating it before.  So he probably die of hunger or not used to the condition (cannot adapt to no aircon??  as suggested by the shopkeeper)  

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My Pets

 

Photograph of Dora at 1 year old

I love pets.  I had dogs, chickens and terrapins before.  Now I have cat at home.  The above photograph shows Dora, named by Isaac.  She was a stray kitten, brought home one day on 14 March 2019.  She is such a pretty cat.  We had done deworm and vaccination for her at the pet shop.  She was sterilized as well.  Dora can understand 'fish'.  She loves fish.  Every time I said 'fish', she would come out from her hiding place.  Besides fish, Dora loves to eat prawns also.  Sometimes she eats little chicken.  

Photograph of Dora (2 year old) looking at the newly purchased terrapins

Recently, the school counsellor suggested to buy terrapins for Isaac.  She bought two, but in the end 1 was stolen.  So it was only left with one, Mumbo.  Jumbo was stolen.  Jumbo was a female, bigger in size than Mumbo.  Mumbo and Jumbo were placed in school.  However after got stolen, Isaac got to bring it home.  But unfortunately, Mumbo died some time later.  

Isaac was sad to see the terrapins lost and died.  I walked past Marsiling pet shop one day, after seeing doctor for my hand.  I asked them if they sell terrapins.  The shopkeeper told me the shipment will come later in the week.  I called up several times to ask, and finally the shopkeeper even call me back to say the terrapins are here.   

Photograph of terrapins on 3 March 2021

So Isaac and me cycled to Marsiling pet shop to buy the terrapins on 2 March 2021 -- Two terrapins.  They were gifts from my mother to Isaac.  

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Qyou4 Nan1 (Saving Lives)

 

 One day while walking on the way to 888 Plaza, a pigeon dropped down from its urban home, the modern nest that they build.  I was saying that it's so hard to find a nest in Singapore.  And I saw one nest that come to build in my corridor garden, a natural nest build by the sunbird itself.  How spectacular was that!

My father also brought home a pigeon one day.  I was so amazed with it.  That was the first time I saw a pigeon in my old house with my parents.  My father loved nature too.  He loved to watch animals documentaries too.  He loved to fish.  He was a good fisherman and he specially went hunting for frogs to cook for me to eat so that my legs would be strong when I was young.  My parents were farmers too.  

My father often talked about saving lives.  He would say in Teochew, 'Qyou4 Nan1' (Teochew) which means saving lives, 救人。He was also a kind hearted soul who loves to help people.  So he always mentioned that if wanted to save lives, people must not charge any money.  This is because he encountered many 'medium' who charged my mother thousands of dollars...

Today my father is gone.  By faith, we know that he is in better place now.  I am sure he would be saving lives.  

To think that I was a Catholic since birth, I am a Christian and yet I did not know that being Christian means that we will be saved by God!  I must thank Jesus and God for coming to me to show me, to let me experience and to save my soul. This was assurance of salvation.  If I had sinned and I was saved, so can you. 

Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

You can depend upon this promise.  It means what it says. Eternal life is what you receive when you receive Jesus Christ by faith as your personal Saviour.  The God 'who cannot lie' (Titus 1:2) says, "He who hears My word and believes...has eternal life."  We can base our assurance of salvation on the words of Jesus with total confidence.  

One glorious day Jesus Christ will return as a Conqueror to take His children to be with Him.  "And thus we shall always be with the Lord". (1 Thess 4:17).  We do not know the day nor the hour when this great event will take place. "For the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."  (Matthew 24:44)  Until that day we must live and work for the Lord.    

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49 Days After Death

 

                                                                         My Father

Last Saturday my mother celebrated 49 days after death for my father.  It was supposed to be on Sunday, but the priests would not be free on Sunday to pray for him.  

Early in the morning my mother cooked his favourite food and dessert.  My brother went to buy his favourite food too.  On the table was placed all his favourite food.  

My mother said that for daughters we would mourn until today.  But for sons, they will mourn for 100days.  During the days of mourning, we cannot go other people's houses, cannot attend other funerals and weddings.  We were not supposed to wear red or bright colours.  

 

       My Father when he was young

 So you can see that people grow old.  We are not forever young.  That is the life cycle of human being.  After death, we are resurrected -- the belief of Catholic.  Because of this belief, it gives us hope.  It gives us reassurance that our father is still alive and we that we will meet some day to come. 

Luke 11:9, 10  -- So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.…

I prayed that my parents have everlasting life, and I am willing to sacrifice myself for them.  I do not know what is God's plan for me now.  Having experience death and resurrection, I place all my trust to the Lord and God Jesus Christ now. 

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