First car

The husband finally bought the family first car. He is a finance person who is dead against buying a car. To him, the car is a liability which depreciates the first day you bought it. However, his current job requires him to  move around quite a fair bit and so he finally made up his mind to buy one. A used one…presenting our new helper


A Getz

The US Presidential election

Was just telling the husband that time really went by so fast. I couldn't imagine that we have went to US and back. Went to Shanghai and back. When we were in US, we witnessed the 44th US Presidential election and the swearing in of the first American African US president. In less than two day, the Americans are going to elect their 45th president. Really, time and tide wait for no man. What have you not done, just do it!

Results out…

I was having lunch with the kids when Kai's iPSLE results were released…

Dear Ms Shirley, Congratulations to Shia Kai! He has done very well in the iPSLE 2012 and has won himself 2 other certificates: 1) Outstanding Subject Performance in English 2) Certificate of Merit   The next thing to do will be choosing his secondary school. I am not going to get too stressed and anxious over it. iPSLE is not the end of a child's journey in school. It is just the beginning. The right school plays a part but the big part is played by the home environment and an individual's efforts and motivation. I think Kai has a good home and he is self-motivated and disciplined enough. Will submit application and the rest will leave to God. He will not withhold the best from him.

Very concerned…

A good friend, also an expat, a nomad much longer than me, was in a very tense situation. You see, that's the kind of life, expats sometimes have to face. Unless you have been relocated to some first world country, you will never know when situation can change for the worse.

Haven't heard from her since her last blog post. Pray, pray, pray. The angels of God surround her whole family. Amen.

Birthday Part II

We headed down to town to have my birthday dinner. Nothing fanciful, something which all love… and it has been quite a while since we last ate at this place.




Then went to buy myself a present. *Smile*

I am 46 today!

Can you believe it, I had to count to remember what's my age. It shows that with each passing year, age is a number that is lost. You no longer remember the number of years spent but just live life as it passes by. Remember the reunion I attended last week. During the gathering, someone shared about this book,  'Half Time' http://www.amazon.com/Halftime-Changing-Your-Success-Significance/dp/0310215323.
As Buford explains, 'My passion is to multiply all that God has given me, and in the process, give it back.' That requires asking important questions: What am I really good at? What do I want to do? What is most important to me?

Yes, it is my half time. My first half - married, have children, raise them up. Uprooted ourselves and lived in foreign lands…  As they slowly grow up and be independent, I will no longer be as much needed. Giving them space and giving myself more time to reach my potential is my goal for the next half of my life. I cannot just live my life status quo. Giving up my job to be a full-time mother was the biggest step and risk I have ever taken. I do not come from a rich family, neither does the spouse. Living on single income with two young children was stretching our faith to the fullest. God has shown Himself to be faithful. We have never lacked anything. In fact, we upgraded from a 3-room flat to a 4-room flat. I believed I have made the right choice and have raised my kids well. Now, it is up to them to take on what they have received from me and learn to be on their own with the values I have imparted to them. As for me, it is time to take on the next risk. Like what a friend - pastor said, "aging adventurously".

The call to come home must have a reason, must have a purpose. The reason is to "GIVE BACK". The prompting seems to be getting louder. Like what my pastor in Shanghai said "His will, He pays, Your will, you pay." This will be the preparation stage, seeking His will for the next half time.

Checking the meaning of my name Shirley (by the way, my parents gave me this name from birth. It is in my birth cert, I didn't name it myself), it means bright meadow. Meadow is a grassy big field. It means big-ness… opportunities to do so much with it and on top of that, it is bright. No wonder I love vastness and brightness.

That's it, opportunities are out there, CARPE DIEM! I pray my next half of my life will be just as fulfilling as my first half. Please pray with me and walk with me.

Happy Birthday to you, Shirley!




Birthday card from the son. His usual self…



Birthday card from the daughter. See, it's a 3D card and with her dog!


Birthday gift from the spouse. It will be our first couple time after a L-O-N-G break 

Release the child in us…and in them

The Legoland Malaysia is finally opened. The spouse and I decided to bring the kids before the school vacation starts. In a way to thank them for travelling with us and congratulate them for overcoming some challenges in their lives all through the years of nomadic living.

Here we go…

Coach to Malaysia is no longer the same




Views on our way to Malaysia via the second causeway. Beautiful


We have arrived!


The journey began…


Going, going….


…gone and survived!


Mum, I  got rid of koko. LOL!


My jouster


Young drivers. This one is fun. They drove around in a 'real' road with traffic lights, road signs. Reminded me of my driving circuit at Ubin.


People outside this ride could 'throw' water bomb at them. So the fun is really in not taking the ride!


Will he be the next Einstein?




The mini world was fascinating


Really wonder how long they took to make each of these animals?


Lunch at an empty cafe. Wonderful! Perhaps the last time we are going to enjoy the fun of visiting a theme park on a weekday cum school day


This view reminded me of Dutch Wonderful at Lancaster, USA.


Final shot with the Lego chef!

This theme park is worth going for a day trip. If you are planning to holiday at Malaysia and at the same time visit Legoland, I suggest you don't do that. Legoland is so close to Singapore via the second causeway. Yes, that basically means there are no hotels nearby. If you book a hotel at JB, you will need to travel some time to make your way there. Legoland hotel will only open in 2014. Water theme park will be opened in 2013. So, that leaves you with just doing a day trip. Go in the morning and come home in the evening. It will be more than sufficient.

Enjoy!