Elemental

Ya... Air, if in your heart it doesn't make sense to do the an chuang since you can't follow all the way and don't want to buy temp bedding... then, just forgo it lor. Just be conscious of the need to treasure each other, and to be consciously aware that on the night of your AD that you are now formally man & wife. You belong together, and this is officially your bed together from now on. Perhaps thinking that consciously will fulfill, at least in part, the original intention of the an chuang ceremony. My hubby and I are still very happy and loving together, so I don't think not doing the an chuang will be catastrophic... It's all about your mind and how you hold the principles and meanings of these customs close to your heart daily. All the best!

Someone told me that they installed the dispenser such that it can be unscrewed FROM THE TOP, ie. just remove the pump head. This means no need to bend down etc. They love using it. I guess, as long as you don't run through a big bottle every few days (like in offices), it's not too difficult to pour from the typical sized 1L bottles. I guess they don't think it's necessary to wash the inside of the bottle itself cos it doesn't get dirty (after all, it is filled with CLEANER ). If you are a stickler for these things then just stick with one brand/flavor lor. Otherwise, X brand lime smell + Y brand Lemon smell still smells pretty much the same lah, or at least can blend in together. I'm thinking of doing this too.

Thanks raincole for your quick reply... Lidat then I dun need to bother with anything... Cherlyn: Why I believe now arh? Hmmm... It had been a difficult 2 yrs for me. Ended up had to do a lot of hard thinking in order to make difficult decisions and to do the right thing for everyone. It made opened my eyes to see beyond religion, to understand what it means to live and what I should do, what is my purpose, etc. And I found the same consistent answers in all religions, not in the details, but in meaning and purpose. This made me realize that the universe is too profound for me to claim that I understand it. Hence all my boundaries on this broke down and I now have a deep respect for everything, including the spiritual and metaphysical forces. No, I am not able to attribute my lack of an chuang to any problems I am currently facing. My hubby and I are a good 8zi match, so we are strong no matter what. But we did encroach on many fengshui taboos unknowingly back than, and we did indeed face some hiccups and silly quarrels since marriage, which I think, were not characteristic of our relationship previously. The only thing I changed in my room after believing in FS was to cover up the mirror and TV that faced my bed directly. I don't know if this is the direct cause, but certainly my r/s with my husband has improved and we tend to be sweeter and more considerate to each other. My mother was also very ill at the beginning of the year, and at my wits' end, I placed some unique FS cures and asked for distant prayers. It did not cost me any thing, and was simple to implement. While it was the doctors that CURED her, I found that she has progressed better and in a much better mood in general. Like the daily "arrows" that had been affecting her has been cushioned... It's just how it feels like to me lah. Don't think I want to proclaim that it's the fengshui that has changed everything... But in my heart I feel that it has helped my mom. Hence now I am preparing to renovate my new place, I'm hoping to get the FS (at least the basics) right and not make any major boo-boos. Personally I do believe that FS and traditions influence something in our lives, be it purely consciously/unconsciously or supernaturally. I have also seen/heard many first-hand experiences that indicate that FS can indeed influence one's life.

Hi all, When I got married 2 yrs ago, I didn't believe in any of these traditions or FS stuff, so we heck care his mom and didn't bother to 按床 and even slept on the marital bed for a few months before the wedding ceremony! Anyway, now I believe lah... I will be renovating my new house and moving in abt 2mths... May I know if the bed installation will be necessary/beneficial when I move to my new place with my new bed? Thanks in advance!

Haiz... NOW they learnt their lesson lor... Boh pian, they got married at that time and had to apply for flat mah. Actually they wanted a small place, but his mom said that might as well get a big exec one so that have enough space for kids. They respected her wishes, forego a $8k cash deposit on another Hougang unit, end up lidat... !! Now they are not even planning for kids because of her ill health... Haiz... that's why they say 人算不如天算. Now their only way out is to migrate cos SG houses is too ex to buy (can't buy HDB some more cos of the $30k fee). Move to Australia where housing is more affordable, have a higher standard of living, while renting out this flat to help finance it... So stupid right. And the government just blame people like them for being "quitters".

There's a coffee shop along Sengkang East Ave (along the LRT line, opposite the SBS Transit building) Should be around Blk 303-308. The food is generally yummy (especially the Xiao Wan Mian). There is a bread/pao shop and 4D shop just beside it.

Haiz... Tough luck man... My brother in law bought a SK exec 5 room for $450k from HDB during the height of the last property boom. It's SENGKANG LEH, not SENTOSA or what... In the last few years the prices fell to $280k... and then finally now it's gone up... but only to $350k. They can never hope to sell this house without a massive loss... And even if they do manage to sell it, they still have to pay back into their CPF account for what they took out (or something lidat), and if they want to downgrade to smaller flat, they have to pay the govt $30k IN CASH! !! So poor thing... work like dog to pay for a HDB they can't sell. They have no kids, only 1 dog... So wasted. 2 rooms are EMPTY. Imagine, if their timing had been better, they could have gotten a nice 2 room condo for the same price during the slump

OIC!! Good stuff good stuff! Thanks Mace!

Thanks Mace for your quick reply! Actually I was wondering specifically why you said: Blue X = if yours is a full height window, need to cover at least 1m height with plasterboard/cabinets. This is the first time I've heard of this. Many people (including me) have got full height windows in their living rooms and often in the corner of the whole house. You are advising this because full height windows are not good in this corner of the house, or other reason? And why 1m plasterboard/cabinets? Black X = no sofa there. Is it because one should not sit facing outwards? Or one should not sit facing a specific direction? Yellow line = cover full height, should not see window. Why should this particular corner of the window be fully covered up? What are we trying to prevent? So sorry if I am being too pushy... Just that I"m curious, and very interested to find out the principles behind fengshui practices... thank you so much!

Mace, I have been following this thread with great interest as I am also in the process of designing my new home... Can you please share why you have advised as above? I would like to learn and understand better... Thank you so much!

Wow! Nice place! I love the glossy black! So what was the final cost for your reno? I'm going to get my keys soon so now looking for ID. Thanks!

My money is my money, his money is also my money... kekeke My jie meis made him sign contract that fateful morning...

On the flip side of this very scary topic... here's an article from a website written by a pathologist about Spirits, Ghosts and Guides http://www.kktanhp.com/Spirits,Ghosts.htm After reading it I find that it explains many of the incidents mentioned here, and I feel less fearful....

Cookie, it really depends on how you use it and what you use it for.... If you are only using it: 1. To hold lighter items like novels and paperbacks, little knick knacks 2. More as a storage than a shelf - NO loading and unloading from it daily it should be ok. BUT if you are using it: 1. To hold heavy stuff like encyclopedias, hardcovers, large photo albums, etc 2. As a surface what may contact water 3. With the cabinet doors and open and close them many times daily then do reconsider. The shelves are not very strong and warp under heavy weight. The surface is not water proof and swells if puddles of water are left on it for too long. The hinges for the cabinet doors are not very high quality and so may shift their alignment after time, especially if you open/close very often and have a tendency to leave the door open sometimes. The weight of the door , when left open, pulls on the hinge and causes it to tilt downwards just a fraction each time. I am not sure if the quality of the billy bookcases have improved since I last bought them, which was a few years ago... It's still standing in my room, but it's a bit shaky, one of the shelves are warped, and the doors are out of alignment but I don't use it often anymore so it doesn't bother me. But if you are a perfectionist then it might just irritate you that it's not as good as it should be. But then again, for the price...... Anyway, you can always just get it first and see how long it'll last you lor. As long as you don't have heavy usage and take good care of it, it's passable. Even if it only lasts 2 yrs... i think it's still worth the money.

The junk series you guys mentioned above are most likely the BILLY series.... They really don't last, and often don't even stand firmly by themselves. When buying anything from IKEA, avoid the plywood and chipwood items, unless you don't need heavy duty and don't need them to last more than 2yrs. However, I have been using their sultan-something mattress for 2+ years... Still ok lah. Cheap $599 for Queen size.

Erm... So interesting, this thread. Actually, personally, if I make the mistake of overcharging someone (especially someone I don't know personally), I think I will be more kan cheong to return him the money (esp if amount is small, like $4) than he is kan cheong to get it back lor. To me, if I dun return, I have taken money I should not have. To him, he has just spent extra $4 on something he just bought. I think the first is a lot more serious lor. I will keep contacting the guy to make arrangements THAT ARE CONVENIENT FOR HIM, and if I am not able to make it within a day or two I will sure call and apologize and try to arrange asap, especially if it is my mistake in the first place. Seriously, Enci, if you are busy, so is everyone else. The onus is on you to return the money, even if you have to take $10 cab to return $4. If you work till 11pm, then take cab to his house to pass $4 to him personally, and apologize for disturbing him at such a late hour. I don't see why you have to ask storeberry to come over to YOUR location to pass him the money. Shouldn't you be asking him which is the most convenient location for HIM for a meet up instead? Somemore your location is not central leh - it's not your fault that you don't live centrally, but is it HIS fault? Do you know why everyone is making such a big deal of this $4? Seriously, I think none of us care abt the money. It's your attitude to this whole thing that has caused everyone to feel a certain way abt you, and it's not helping us have a good impression of buddhists. On one hand you speak so strongly and passionately about the virtues of Buddhism (which I also subscribe to), but on the other hand you appear to lack the determination to do something that even people with no religion (no offense to free thinkers) will feel paiseh about lor. And worse still, after this matter has been brought up openly here, you do not sound sincerely apologetic for making the mistake and for inconveniencing storeberry. You insist that your actions do not reflect badly on your person, and merely make it storeberry's responsibility to help YOU return the money. And of course, none of us believe that anyone who is sincere abt returning the money will allow it to drag on for so many weeks.

Actually I think I am one of the rare few lucky ones where my MIL does not go all out to pick on me or to speak badly of me. She's actually quite a difficult person, very stubborn, opinionated, and judgmental. When I tell my friends "stories" abt her, they find it hard to accept, and a few have even encountered her and were shocked at her behavior. But fortunately she has a good heart, and ultimately wants everyone to be happy. So... as long as I do my best to be nice to her, show her respect, she is very doting on her sons and daughter-in-laws. I am not an ideal DIL myself. I am quite lazy as I grew up with a maid at home, so I hardly do chores, even though I know how to. Fortunately her own son is also like that, and he is served hand and foot since young. So she does not expect very much from me either, because of the way she views children and housework. We used to have a maid, but recently we sent her back and don't intend to get another for now. I do try to help with the chores, but she usually shoos me away because she's much more efficient than me and she is very particular abt the way it's done. And because I don't do much cleaning of my own bedroom during the week, she also does not make too much noise, or try to impose her own super hygiene standards onto me. Usually she will hint a bit... I will try a bit... then I will slack after a while As for talking abt me, I believe she speaks of both good and bad in equal measure. So I think that's fair and a good balance. She won't go and deliberately slime me lor, and I believe she's proud of me in certain ways, and will share that to her relatives. In fact, she will probably defend me if the occasion arises. At least she is honest... even to herself. I also have a great r/s with my sister-in-law (hubby's bro's wife). She's a super sweet person and she has the kindest heart. She doesn't gossip at all, and always tries to see the best in people. In fact she will always try to speak good of my MIL to me, and vice versa, so that everyone knows that there is goodwill from everyone. My MIL has also NEVER spoken bad of my SIL to me, or of me to my SIL. She has also NEVER compared the two of us. THIS I find amazing. For all this, I am very grateful. I think character differences are only to be expected, as are differences in opinions. What matters most is that both parties are sincere about building a good r/s, and willing to put down pride to settle differences, and to appreciate each other. For my part, I try to make my MIL happy. I chat with her, generally agree with her abt everything, try to do all the errands she ask of me, curry favor her (yes she enjoys that cos she very hao lian), buy her gifts, treat her son like king, tolerate his bad temper meekly and show her that I am very grateful and appreciative. So it's really a lot of give and take lah... Must figure out what makes the other person tick.

YES! Very good. SUPER POWERFUL SUCTION. Until sometimes it is difficult to pull it off the carpet or even floor. Can double up to clean your aircon piping as well, when it gets clogged. Don't ask me how to do it... My MIL does it, and it saves us loads of $$$. So far Kacher products have been very good.... Their steamer is also excellent.

I'll be moving to Compassvale by end of the year! I wish there's a cinema at Compasspoint!!

Oh.... haha... no not stiff as platform lah. It is considered in the firm category (By Ikea standards), but to me it is average firmness. There is sufficient support cos of the latex, but it is also quite cozy cos of the spring. If you want platform then you should get Seahorse brand. That is VERY good for super firm mattress. Cheap too!

I did! Bought the most expensive one, if I remember correctly... abt $500 for a queen size (still cheap!). It is a combi of latex and spring. I think it's 10 yr warranty. I have been sleeping on it for 2 years... Quite comfy... the shape/form of the mattress still ok... considering I've only rotated it once. It's good if you are on a budget and don't care for fancy brands.

Haha I so agree with you GnM! My hubby is sweet lah, but inherently not domestic, cos he's mommy's precious boy, where even grapes she de-seed for him one by one (yes! A 30 yo man!) He usually isn't even AWARE of the chores that have to be done. It's as if he doesn't see the clothes on the floor and the cups on the table! So I usually have to sit down nicely and ask him to help me by listing it down one by one. He tries.... for a week or so... and then forgets and slips back into his old pattern. I don't get angry cos I know it's just not in his DNA to do these things, and most of the time he helps when I ask. BUT I have realized that there is ONE thing that is very important. His efforts must be acknowledged and praised, every time (like training puppy lidat ). Then he'll be pleased with himself and try harder to "remember" the next time. So far it's worked, but I must also set my expectations lor. He will never be a good homemaker - I must take the lead and the initiative and not expect him to do the "right"/"responsible" thing all the time. I have to be patient, and he has to try to contribute....

For those who have used Wayonnet before, can you tell me if he is patient and willing to answer questions when asked? Does he appear to be hurried, or gives you the feeling that his time is very precious so please hurry up kind? I understand that he is a quiet person, which I am ok with. But I am generally the kind who like to ask a lot of questions, and prefer someone who does not mind my questions and who will patiently and sincerely try to answer them. As he is indeed one of the more costly Masters around, I would really like to be able to gain as much understanding from him as possible. I am afraid that he may leave me high and dry after I have paid so much... and then I will really Many thanks!