cash rich

i dont know why i had somewhat lost my interest in gambling, but recently i joined some games at my lady boss' house last saturday and it was quite fun.

sunday evening, after dinner at the office, there were games at the pantry till 5am! can you imagine i still had the energy to go to work after 2 hrs of sleep.

i only liked black jack but my seed betting of $50 is too miserable compared to the regular player ranging from $500 to $6000 each bet. i played anyway.

at the mahjong game, one player won total of $160K over 2 other players.

that is enough to buy a 3 room HDB flat outright.

some people would have to pay like over 30 years.

sometimes i wonder if it is any wrong for people to gamble like this when there are those who are struggling... but those struggling people are not in the same radius of those high flyers because "birds of a feather flock together".

is there anything wrong for those who in others' views are splurging or wasting money when perhaps in our society there are those who cannot make ends meet?

recently i read in the papers about a cosmetic surgeon who spent $20 thousand on a pair of leggings. $20 thousand for a pair of stockings is shocking to some as it could jolly well be some people's one year salary.

so as our society's wealth disparity widens, where do you belong? high, mid or low? do you detest those who splurge? if yes, why?

i really am not sure about myself. i have no feelings about those who splurge i guess because if i have the means i will also splurge. i have no issue about spending money as long as i feel that it is worth the money.

a student drawn A LOT OF FLAK from the people of Singapore when she blogged about an educated men whining about loss of jobs and pressure of living standard going higher.

i think if i voice my views i will also be drawing flak.

i dont know where to draw the line between being empathetic, sympathetic and compassionate. as i dont believe in spoon feeding. perhaps i am hard because i worked my way in life the hard way and i believe the hardship has paid off in ways of shaping my character, diligence and strength. but i am in no way hard-hearted. i help in more ways than ever and inspire people to help themselves and i demonstrate that it can be done. i once read that true charity is to light a hope and inspire others, give them opportunities to upgrade in skills etc. i believe our government is fair enough to do these.

negativity starts from a thought before it becomes an action and eventually shapes a persons behaviour and character. i am fully aware of that and i always instill kind thoughts to others and help them see things in different light. i always hear people gossiping about how someone changed (for the worse) after she becomes rich. i say "she" because there is prejudice that female is the likely gender. i think those who think like that have issues with money and should look into themselves or they will never get rich.

anyway, back to my games.. i would love to gamble big and i think i will be able to do so next year. give me some time to save my seed money. big games will relight the fire in me. in case you are worried that i may get carried away,,, worry because i may. but still, you have to let me live my life. isnt it?

cleaning therapy

i was very crancky knowing that i procrastinated cleaning my vanity drawer.. so i finally got round to empty all the items on the floor and sort them accorinding to:- liquid soap, cake soap, shampoo, conditioner, body & hand lotion, perfumes, facial wash, candles, razors, shower caps, sun tan lotion, sun screen, toothpaste and ear buds. totally A1 for neatness after cleaning.

felt GOOD!

Darwin Recap 3

i totally dig into this make-up case which i use as a handbag.

it is made of satin and has a classy print. i like clear and see-through bags where i can see all my stuff in a glance.

also interesting is this chocolate-beaded straw that turns plain mike into chocolate flavour when you use it to drink your milk. i bought lots of this to give away as a novelty.

Darwin Recap 2

we stayed at this motel called the Poincianna Inn. i like its neat layout and yellow walls with big bricks outline. the fencing are like match-sticks and i like its geometric look.

if we could also name our vehicles in singapore, Grace (my car) would have her name displayed.

i have always felt that it was a hassle to recycle until i see that in taiwan + australia, recycling is part of their lifestyle and it is not a "shy" thing to re-use glass bottles to serve water to guests or use them as pepper and salt shakers.

Dawin Recap

the highlight of the trip was certainly the "Jumping Crocodiles" at Adelaide River in Darwin.

they could swirl their torso like a snake in charm and snap their jaws with a lound "cock-cock" sound. it could break a neck, no kidding.

other than that, we ate at restaurants similar to hooters-- called the "Hog's Breath Cafe" and at a pizza place that gave me additional 3KGs after my 3-day holiday. we spent most of our time shopping at their local surf shop and supermarket. i suppose the australian's favourite pastime is drinking as their pups are filled with merry people most nights.

concept of money = currency

take this for instance we are living with very simplified lifestyle,

and for instance, no one had money to begin with.

setting:-

barber gives hardressing services for $1 per hair cut.

author writes and sells his book for $1 per booklet.

flourist plants and sells her flowers for $1 per bouquet.

housekeeper does cleaning services for $1 per job.

farmer sells his poultry for $1 per chicken.

and you work as a clerk for $1 a day.

you then take your $1 salary to buy a chicken from the farmer.
farmer takes the $1 you've given him and hands you the chicken.
farmer uses the $1 and engaged in housekeeper to clean his home.
housekeeper gets paid with the $1 she is charging.
she went on to buy some flowers from the florist, $1 per bouquet.
flourist decides to purchase a novel with that $1 she earned.
book sellers receives $1 for the sale and went to trim his hair for $1 at the barbers.
barbers pay you $1 for clerical work at his shop.

at the end of the cycle, you get paid with the original $1 you had spent and you
earned a chicken, farmer had his house cleaned, cleaner had flowers to admire,
flourist gets a new novel, author gets a new hairdo, barber gets his bookeeping done
AND you still get paid $1 again.

there was no money to begin with, remember?
so how did we all end up with more money and value added?
(be it a tangible or non-tangible)

first, we have to add value. that is do a job, give a service or produce something.
second, we have to spend. that is, part with the money.

the cycle continues as long as there is both "in" & "out" and money is the conductor, hence currency.

Paint Job

how many women could stand it if their husbands paint their home like this? be prepared because i would paint my home like this if i have my way!

thank goodness for CPF

last week, i made $44,000.00 investment with my CPF money.

thank goodness for CPF. it is a form of forced savings that is made compulsory by the government.

if not for CPF, i would not have afforded my flat as i am not disciplined with money and savings.

i am grateful that i have a home i fully own and we are on our way to upgrade to a bigger flat next year.

acutally there are many good deals in Singapore that people are not aware of. like the HDB walk-in-selction has flats at good rates but because most newly wed couple would like to have new flats, the second hand ones are untaken.

anyway.. i am excited to plan about our new flat.., now it is time to save, save & save.

my colleague is asking me if we will have my in-laws living with us.

i am not sure but i think it might be better if we live separately. it is more cordial when we see each other once a week. but whatever the case, if it is necessary we will of course have them under our roof. mark's sis has cerebral parsy (im not sure abt spelling).. she has an intellect of an infant and her limbs are not developed. all curled up. mark's dad is partially blind and his mom had stroke some years back and is paralized on the right. but they are fine, really. mark does the housework frequently and my aunt sends food there regularly too.

my father-in-law though partially blind, is one hell of a handy man. he assembles his bicycle, fixes his fish tank and even paint the hall in his fancy. see the above pictures you'll understand.

interesting man.