Chunky Monkey

I used Parosols Unlimited. Great quality and service.

It's with mindsets about bottomlines all the time, that puts us in such a sorry state that we are in. That's the point I am trying to make, why does it have to be about money all the time? Why can't bus companies be more civic minded, and think about giving back to society? For example, start by giving back 5 - 10% of their earnings and do the right thing? I just read the Sunday Times, and having read the article that the law for seatbelts in buses will take time to be implemented, makes me shake my head. What is it about it that needs so much time? Why can't the authorities put their foot down, implement the law, and give 12 months for compliance, whether the bus companies like it or not? God forbid, but if any of our school going children, who take the school bus, get into a collision, would we parents give everything we have to have our children back? We cannot be complacent.

I guess the story about 8-year-old Russell who was flung out of his school bus in a road accident is still quite fresh in everyone's minds. At the month-end Parliament meeting this month, many MPs are said to be garnering for a law to be passed to make selt belts mandatory in SCHOOL BUSES. The debate of who's to pick up the tab was, to me, the most irritating bit. I think the bosses of private bus companies are too "money faced". They see themselves as a simple bus operators. They do not see themselves as a community service providers. And that seems to be the hardest and most difficult mindset to alter. I hope to see the Government come out with a new legislation about bus companies that will skew these bus companies into thinking that if they don't conform, they will lose out to competition. Instead of using the cost of retro-fitting seat belts as main reason for not taking the lead. (sic) Stepping away from the above, I would like to start a discussion about how you decide on having a infant/child car seat in your own private cars? What are the factors of consideration? Do you already practice safe road safety for your most precious 'assets'? Fire away!

Do no Evil?

I use a company called Parasols Unlimited. There are many companies like them. So do use the Yellow Pages, to get a few competitive quotes.

Animal instincts ... natural procreation ..... well, what can I say. Our society however is not devoid of moral values. And every thread of society is bounded by what is accepted and unaccepted "socially". If one lives in a vacuum, well, by all means, have as many partners as one likes. In society, judgement is all part of society, and we have to live up to expectations whether we like it or not. It's our responsibility. There is no justification for extra-marital affairs. Someone is bound to get hurt, and the one being cheated on will be devastated. We all took our marriage vows. For better or worse. We *chose* our life partner. No one forced us to marry our spouse. So, be responsible for your own actions, and blame no one. Sorry, for being so direct and straight forward.

There was a mad rush just before CNY. So I am not surprised at the compromise of some sewing. Your experience may not be exemplary of all curtains coming out from Jimmy Textiles. Just make sure you get your curtains rectified. This is true to a very large extent. But there are some curtain shops that will bring material to your homes, take measurements on site, and give recommendations to colour/fabric combinations. I dealt with 2 shops via phone, and they sent their sales staff down.

This is by NO means an endorsement. I just wish to pass on information that I have actively culled when I was looking to furnish my children's rooms. www.happykidsasia.com

Yes, Wilkinson Road is near Broadrick Road/Crescent Road indeed. These compressors need to sit on the ground. And they take up floor area. Food for thought?

Sorry to hear that you are disappointed with your purchase. You might want to try re-aligning the plastic bag/insert. I am using normal supermarket plastic carriers, and these can even be hidden in the bin.

wuga, you know I will be following your t-blog very closely. (cheers) Regarding your bathroom accessories, please make sure these are approved models. One of my ex neighbours, now in the midst of building her house, ran into problems with her faucets and rainshowers. Something to do with violating water consumption regulations. Do check with your engineers/architect.

wuga, I just visited a friend who moved into a house her father built for her (Wilkinson Road) and she has 2 of these compressors that are placed on the ground in her back kitchen. They are huge!! I was very surprised to see them, and asked why her father's developer chose these mega compressors, and his rationale is no different from yours i.e. to amalgamate all aircon units into 2 mega compressors. This is something that I have not done personally, and I do not have direct experience to share if there are real pros for doing it. But top of mind, I wonder if it's really energy saving if you only have 1 or 2 ceiling cassette fans running.

I am very excited to see your T-blog, wuga! When's the estimated TOP?

zirhk, with all due respect I think that is a moot point. We are all not destitutes by a long mile, and none of us participating in a renovation (which is a luxury by any comparison) forum would belong to any of the extreme cases named as examples. (And I say this not without compassion). Even so, the extreme examples are also not terminally definate. They are circumstances that can be unwound/recovered. Maybe it's my naivity, but I have the opinion that anyone with conviction to improve one's lives will not stay 'unlucky'. Those who do nothing will not have their lives improved. And to relate back to having a single income family, with a stay at home mom to look after children (and not relying on a domestic maid 100% as in the hideous videos), it's financial choices that seem to be the main artery of all other decisions. Those would mean, not living out of ones means. To be able to have choices, one needs the freedom to make them. And I think you already know what I am driving at. Oh, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xin Nian Kuai Le!

karen, it's not about luck or no luck. CHOICES. We all have choices and we make choices that are most suitable for ourselves, at various life stages.

^^ LOL! We didn't want to quibble, because we want to make sure he will come back to service us over the months when we need to get things done! We did a lot of hacking to conceal alot of wires and water pipes. Our walls are smooth, so that's all that matter. Based on our past experiences with our main contractor, if we do not bargain too much with him, he would come to us whenever we need help and won't dare to charge us for small jobs anymore. (we didn't have an ID)

What kind of material is the quote for? $280 for removal (which also includes disposal) and plastering is fairly reasonable. Make sure you are not already charged an overall fee for filling holes, mending walls, and plastering. I was charged $1,800 per room for ALL the necessary works needed to "make good" my walls. Which also includes plastering and mending my walls after my electrician hacks my walls to install the wall sockets etc. By right my electrician should do it, but their workmanship really sucks, and they don't use cement but just plaster. My main contractor uses cement to fill up holes & uneven walls, and then plaster.

I am the least qualified person to talk about FS, only because I personally turn a blind eye to it. I am not disrespectful to FS, for the record. It's just that I don't wish to consult when I know I would be rather resistant to making changes in the house, after a consultation with a FSM, KWIM? I am most happy when I can decide the way I like about my own home, and I know I would be sorely unhappy, to be reminded of things in the house that were 'enforced' upon me, because someone else said I should have this or have that. So, I personally rather not have this 'exterior' influence in the way I build/design my house. And like my DH (he's not local) would say, Ignore is Bliss. Anyway, now that I have said my piece, I thought I could at least share with you something that I chanced upon. Do you all remember growing up with this daily flip calendar, where you tear off the pages day by day? And on each page, you have snippets of information regarding FS advices etc? How many of you actually read and understood what was printed on each page? There is a shop in Bras Basah that sells the English translated version of this calendar, and I thought it's so wonderfully cute. The shop name is Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd #02-15 Tel: 636 5222. Email: mahayuyi@singnet.com.sg This shop sells the books that my DH uses to learn his Mandarin, and they are the best books >> The New Practical Chinese Reader. But mind you, they are expensive. But well worth the money. Back to this calendar, for those who consult FS for major decisions of your lives, I think you should get this English translated calendar, so you can check yourself the good dates for home removal etc etc.

What the maid has done is sickening. I can't help but wonder how long she has tormented this poor baby?!! As a mother of 2 young children, it makes my stomach turn just watching these videos of cruelty. Very clearly, the maid has no patience or mental make-up suitable to care for a baby, child or aged. And to read that she's actually gentle to the baby in their presence, makes me think that she has a wicked soul in her. No matter how she has been treated by her employer, a decent human being would be kind to a helpless little baby. These videos serve as a wake-up call to parents, not to leave their most cherished "assets" in the hands of a foreign domestic worker. NEVER. Maids are "helpers". They are not great caregivers. For all the people out there who are TTC (trying to conceive), please plan your home logistics properly. I gave up my career because I could trust no one with my own children. My maid assists me at home. She is however never in charge.

I received a newsletter from my Swimming Club and it states that the Rat Year starts on 4th Feb 2008.

Not to be disrespectful to FS, but I need to say that I grew up in my parents' home that always has this round marble table set with 10 round marble stools/seats. This dining table set moved with us across 2 homes. So the comment about bad FS puzzles the h*ll out of me. And I read the pointers stated in the website above, and may I also say that I have violated 90% of what's stated there. And I make no apology for it. I do not let FS run my life. Period.

5 February 2008 It's been over a week since we moved, and we are still sorting out our lives. We moved 336 boxes/pieces of furniture. And 336 is shocking by anyone's standard, I am sure. We thought we had chucked out alot of stuff, but when everything arrived at our new house, we took the opportunity to further screen what we had, and threw out even more. I haven't taken any new pictures but here are the pictures of the removal boxes that I took the other day.

^^ the Ariston hob you have described seems to be the one that I have. And had in my previous house, which I'd used for about 7 years. Stainless steel base is alot easier to maintain than glass.

http://youtube.com/user/oreomummi I have been out of the news for over a week now. And was sent this link by a friend. Sob. Was this reported in the media or something? Can someone tell me if the baby is OK?

The answer is a straight YES. Rental income earned is income earned from other sources. And you need to declare. Non declaration carries a heavy penalty of tax evasion. The fine is many times more than your actual income earned. So, don't play play when it comes to IRAS.