Best friend forever

This post is not for diabetics!

Image from www

 

I cannot say it enough. 

I am blessed to have Stephen as my best friend and husband. 

Each morning is a reminder of how he cares for me when I have my coffee, made by him before he leaves for work.  Seeing to the everyday little details that make me happy.  Even buying the snacks that I like so that we can each have our cheat days.

While I am not earning any more money since I have retired, I have not felt short-changed at all. I had thought that I would have to change my spending lifestyle drastically when I stopped working but everything that I have needed or wanted is handled by Stephen. 

Even for the things that he doesn't understand like my multicooker or air fryer. His motto is "as long as you're happy".  

I am happy.  And I'll say it again, greatly blessed, highly favoured and deeply loved.

Onwards to 2025

 

Last week I got my Long Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP +) renewal done!  This will allow me to remain in Singapore until 6 August 2025.  When we left ICA, Stephen told me that I would be 66 years old the next time I needed to apply again!  Then he sent that image to our children in Malaysia and it made me smile.  And as Jamus Lim would say, "it warms the cockles of my heart". 

I now realise that I've been here for eight and a half years already. Somehow those years went by so fast though it didn't feel that way at all.  

Anyway, despite all the Covid-19 restrictions, I managed to renew my Malaysian passport online, collect it at the Malaysian High Commission here, and also sorted out the LTVP+.  

Thank goodness, we are both computer savvy and can do everything on our own.  

Majulah Malaysia and Singapura!

A hattrick for March 2019

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Goal 1 ~ First time that I had lived in a hotel for two weeks; fourteen days of almost doing nothing!  Bliss!

Goal 2 ~ First time I touched sixty years of age.  Yes!  Six decades on this planet earth.  It was nice to have celebrated my birthday in beautiful Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Goal 3 ~ First time becoming a grandmother and welcoming the arrival of our grand-daughter, Cayla Gail Cheow.  Stephen and I are overwhelmed by everything about her.

I told Jared and Gwen that this is the best gift ever: a gift that will keep growing and growing.  

Image from WWW

We had breakfast with this view nearly every day.  Except for the morning of the day that Cayla Gail was born.  She is more important than food!!!

I do miss it.  I also miss the buffet spread even if I'm not a breakfast person.  I did enjoy the wide selection of local and western delights and being spoilt for choice with fruits and breads galore.  

And after breakfast, we usually return to the room and I always choose to sit by the window to enjoy the view and just feel thankful for all the blessings in my life.  I would usually read a bit while Stephen would wander off to the sauna or gym.  

I took this picture. 

For my birthday dinner, Stephen took me to the Club Lounge.  Just us, because I'm not a party person and I like things quiet and simple.

We chose to sit by the window looking at the setting sun.  This was a moment of bliss for me.  As I took in all the ups and downs in my life, I could see that it has led me to this particular place in time.  I am feeling contented with all who are around me and with me.

There weren't many people, at any one time but it made the ambience quiet and romantic!  I would like to go back again with the children.  The setting is so elegant and the food was absolutely delicious.

While not a drinker by any stretch of the imagination, I did indulge in this Singapore Sling.  I had never ever tried it even after living in Singapore for over 7 years now.  I decided that I like it very much and had two!  Heck!  I'm sixty only once!

And then, stepping out on the balcony, we had this magnificent and glorious sunset for an unforgettable and fitting close to my celebration of 60 years of living.   

I took this picture.  God's masterpiece.

At the end of any day or year or milestone, we need to reflect on all that is good in our lives.  We also need to be thankful to the people who love us, unconditionally.  

Thank you to God for an absobloominglutely unforgettable celebration of love and life.  I am so blessed.  I am so very blessed.

Guess what?  We're going back to KK again, soon!!

Holiday mood

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So we just had an overnight weekend trip to Johore for a short shopping spree.  The children had the car so we joined them for the drive and although it was an impromptu decision, it turned out to be a very enjoyable time with Jared and Gwen.  

We found a nice hotel near to the shopping belt of town and it was a marathon walk from one mall to the other.  

Isn't it funny how we don't feel the tiredness as long as we are on the move?  It's only when we stop that we feel the ache in our bones!

But this is just the prelude to more shopping as Christmas gets near and also as we prepare to visit one of the biggest shopping malls in Asia.

We're definitely in the happy holiday mood already. 

Rules are made to be broken.

These days I keep reminding myself that I should do what I feel like doing.  Mostly I spend my days reading, watching TV, replying mails, browsing online, and chatting with good people on whatsapp.  

Since over a month ago, I've started exercising which is breaking a rule of my own since I don't much like physical activity.  But it's been good since Stephen bought me a Fitbit and I can track my progress.  And I have done pretty well since then!  Slowly but surely I am building up my stamina.

I used to follow a regimen of doing my duty but what exactly is that!  My sense of duty stems from a whole life of hearing that we must do what we are supposed to do.  I never realised how strongly this became my inner voice until I retired.  And even then, the influence of this indoctrination ran deep because to rid myself of it, I had to make a conscious effort to decide otherwise.  

Often, I would put others first and later feel like I had short-changed myself.  And even if people say, "you'll feel good", it wears off pretty quickly.  I know.  I've been there.

Now I have learnt to relax more and just do what suits my mood best.  

When Stephen is not at work, we do what we like because there are no rules and regulations.  We like to keep it that way.  We live according to each other's needs and wants and the rest can take a number and wait! Sounds cold but in the end, we are the ones who will matter and not anybody else.  

I learn as I grow older. And I'm still learning. 

High Five

Image from WWW

I could almost forget that I have been living in Singapore for the last five years.  It seems like I've lived here forever.  I still don't know every nook and cranny and I also have yet to do everything that I had wanted to do.  But it has been an adventure being here with Stephen, my Singaporean tour guide. 

Taking a random bus ride with him will bring stories of landmark buildings.  We have started many days with a fixed plan and then suddenly, we're hopping on the first bus that comes along to see where it takes us.  For me, it's still a touristic thing.  Buses ply routes that the trains don't and I can peek into the other lesser known places of Singapore.  

Life here is peaceful but full.  There isn't a day that goes by when I don't clasp my hands in prayer for the fact that I am here now.  I don't know for sure if I will always be here.  Maybe it's not knowing anything now that makes it exciting.  I would like to think that I would manage well wherever life takes me.  I didn't use to think so but now I'm convinced that I would be fine.

These days we no longer feel lonely when people are just a click away with an internet connection.  Friends reach out and family stay in touch without thinking about it.  It's become the norm.

This year, my to-do list is to walk across the Henderson Wave Bridge.  I think that I've put it off long enough and when the weather is great, we'll suddenly find ourselves there.  Hopefully it will be in the evening so we can soak in the awesome views and sunset.  

In my early twenties, I used to think that my life was so routine and that I could give an arm and leg for some excitement.  Now in my late fifties, I no longer look for that excitement because it now dawns on me that what fills my life is being loved.  That's my fuel and if I am honest with myself, I am truly contented.

Image from Pinterest

Family matters

Image from WWW Credit to TheQuotes Kingdom

It's really a sweet reminder that family matters is what matters most to me.  Also that when something happens, it's good to have the right people in your life for support and encouragement.  

You can be anywhere in the world and if you are with the people that really matter then you can face anything that happens.

All is well that ends well.  

I wish...

Image picked from Twitter

Valentine's Day has come and gone.  There were so many wishes from family and friends that I was overwhelmed.  

For me, it's an over-rated event but I just love spreading the love.  I wasn't alone.  Some sent more than one wish and it was like a competition to see who sent the best image.  At the end of the day, I just couldn't choose which was my favourite.  I loved them all.

Stephen was working so it was a quiet day for us until he came home. 

How did we spend the evening?  We went to church!

It's one of the things we love doing together.  Sometimes he will say something meant only for me and which no one else would understand.  I'm sure many couples have their secret codes between them.

Loking back on our years together, I think that hearing him say "I wish I knew you earlier" has to be the most touching.  I've always made light of the moments when he says this but really it speaks so much about his love for me.

As another Valentine's Day has come and gone, I'm counting my lucky stars again.  

I wish.....

                   for many, many more years together.