Double Merlion AGAIN | Clusia Cove | Psychology of Money

Brayden 8Y11M

Bevlynn 4Y7M24D

This was another "Double Merlion show" but this time in public. 

Remember the time when Bray was so sick, he vomited in the middle of the night. He did managed to run to the toilet, but didn't manage to get the vomit into the toilet bowl. So the whole floor was full of vomit. Then Bev suddenly turned up, was happily cheering and stepping on the vomit. I was screaming at the sight of her. But it was too late. When she realized that it was vomit that she stepped, she started vomiting on the floor too. At that point, I just gave up and let them finished their mini-Merlions show. 

This time, Bev was complaining that she didn't feel to well on her stomach after dinner. She asked to be piggy-back. While walking home, she vomited on the path. She started crying, we quickly sprayed some water to remove the vomit and continue heading home. Bray who was a few seconds behind us, caught up and started vomiting too. This two... how many times do they need to perform their "Double Merlion show"? 

Something else happened at work this week. 

While eating lunch at workplace, there was a sudden commotion right behind my seat. I turned around to see a woman fainted in her seat, her fingers were tightened in a stiff position. Another woman helpless, looked like a colleague of hers in tears, desperately hugged her, massaged her, whispered for her to wake up. She seek help from the crowd to call an ambulance. 

I watched helplessly as my heart raced in silence. Two young men stepped-up to help the woman. In 10 minutes, the ambulance arrived at the scene. The fainted woman was carried and laid on the floor. The paramedic quickly hooked-up the woman to the portable emergency equipment and breathing mask. Then at that moment, what I saw broke my heart. The woman, although unconscious, had a tear streamed down her cheek. It must have been difficult for her to not be able to control what she was going through. My tears started leaking. It was hard to watch. I can't imagine putting myself in her position but knowing she's getting all the help needed was a relief. 

Some good things happened this week too. 

We went to Jurong Lake Garden and the Clusia Cove was opened. It has been under maintenance for awhile. The children enjoyed playing in the sand. 

I volunteered to be in a feedback video for Bray's swimming school. Attended first Parent Teacher Meeting of the year. 

Finished another book Psychology of Money. The book is divided to 20 individual chapters and can be read independently. I particularly find the chapters "Luck & Risk, Never Enough, Confounding Compounding, Getting Wealthy vs Staying Wealthy, Tails You Win, You'll Change" particularly rewarding with good takeaways. 

Chapter 19 "All Together Now" - Brings all points to perspective. As I read them, I questioned myself whether my money psychology is aligned with my goals. Reframe mindset. 

Money sense is a behavior and not simple science, formula or mathematics put together. 

Lists | Books | If Phones and Movies disappeared from the world

Brayden 8Y10M25D

Bevlynn 4Y7M18D

With the start of the new year, the children were excited to head back to school.

I remembered the same time last year, I was struggling to keep up with all the childrens' activities when school started. 

So this year, I had everything on a monthly + weekly calendar and a to-do lists. We "divided and conquered" all tasks one by one. Communicating with the new teacher, Registering for new enrichment class, Swimming test level up, Passport renewal, Play, Doctor's appointments, Children falling sick (one after another) Water Heater broken... There's just so many things that can pop up on the lists. 

With all these tasks, I don't feel overwhelmed. The lists helped. 

I wondered how some working parents cope with even more... A daily dose of energy booster potion? I would need one if there's any. 

I had finished reading 2 books this year. "If cats disappeared from the world" and "The Tipping Point". Both books got me thinking... 

In the first book, 

I asked myself these questions while reading the book. 

1. What is truly important in life right now, What can I live without? (phone? movies?)

2. If I disappear from this world.... 

3. What did I remember from my life's journey?

From the chapter, before phone "disappears completely", I remembered phone played such a good part of my life. There were good memories.

The time when we used the rotary dial phone on the landline. It was such a joy to dial (rotating number "0" was the best), waiting for the other person to pick up (listening to the tone), speaking to the other person on hours and not able to move around (fix spot). There was also the time when phone will get crossed lined with another call and we could hear the other conversations - funny ones would be the lovey-dovey calls. 

Then there was the time when we needed to make calls on the phone booth. I would make the call outside to avoid being caught chatting too long on the phone but I needed to prepare so many coins.... And sometimes while talking you'd get nervous when the screen started blinking meaning that it will stop at anytime. There are also times when you put in a little too much, and the conversation ended early, so you'd tell the other party there's still some time left and we awkwardly continue talking random topics and asked if the time was almost up. I remember I would use it to call my mom from school especially if I forgot my PE clothes.

I remember my Dad had a giant cellphone with a portable bag. It was an antique, and we children loved playing with it. 

I remember getting my first Nokia flip cellphone. That was during university days. I would write all the messages down in a book since the memory of the phone was so limited. I had it with me all the time, even in the toilet. One day, I accidentally dropped it in the squatting toilet bowl. I had to ask a guy friend for help to pick it up. I know it's very eeky but the phone was sooooo important to me. 

I won a landline phone in a lucky draw. Lol that was also a story to remember. 

I had good memories of phone. 

From the chapter, before movies "disappears completely", the part the writer wrote that a blank screen was shown and he has flashbacks of his life; this made me teared up. I thought to myself, how can I forget that our lives were a giant big screen movie. 

I remember when I was in kindergarten, I would watch cartoons on the big bulky tv until I fall asleep. My dad would carry me to the bedroom and I would pretend to sleep so I don't have to walk back to bed. I often rewatched the same cartoons over and over.  

I remember when our Lee family; grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins would gather in the living room of our big home and we would watch the movies together during CNY and on the weekends. It was a fun and merry tradition. We had also an antique black and white TV that has a console, rotating dial for a radio and a sliding cover. I loved the noisy crowd and tightness of the extended family. 

I remember the time when we often watched movies together as a family. Every week, my dad would bring us to a tape rental store to choose one to watch for the week. We had to choose very carefully which movie we wanted to watch (unlike now, there are so many movies to choose from and we get bored from the selections). We, the children, used to look forward to going to the rental stores. 

There were just so many good memories of both phone and movies...

In the second book, it gives ideas about factors to start a trend or spread a behaviour. The little things; often overlooked; but highly "infectious"  

2026 Start

New year Resolution

• Building moments with Bray and Bev - giving Bray more opportunities to enjoy childhood, start to hone Bev's skills
• Practice daily gratitude 
• Stay sharp and focus on building retirement plans with Hub, vision clarity
• Take good care of health
• Plan overseas trip
• New opportunity

2025 Summary

2025 in a nutshell: 

• Salvation Army
• CNY in Penang, Georgians Reunion Dinner
  
• Penang Festival Miao Hui
• Bro Max and Sis Melissa Wedding at Suffolk House
• Farewell to Eva
• Welcome Lily
• Pokemon GO City Safari
• Bukit Batok Family Day
• SEA Aquarium
• BB Neighbourhood Clean Up
• Piano Oxygen Music Festival
• Pokemon Mezastar
• June holiday in KL and Genting with Bro Max and Mom (Pokemon GO Fest Global)
• 4 events in 2 weeks 
• National Day Celebration SG60
• STEM Fest Singapore Science Centre
• Brayden Kindergarten Reunion
• Kpop Demon Hunter
• Cousins Trip to Singapore
• September holiday in KL with Bro Max and Mom
• Classy Project completion 
• Volunteer at Children Day Fiesta
• Bukit Batok Mid-Autumn Festival
• Lights by the Lake
• Canstatter Volksfest in Germany
• Picnic at Westcoast Park
• BB tree planting
• Universal Studios Singapore (Halloween, Christmas, New Year's Eve)
• Legoland (Halloween)
• Halloween at Genting
• Halloween & Bukit Batok Movie Night
• Pokemon GO Wild Area
• Team Bonding (Cooking, PickleBall)
• 3 weeks November & December holiday in Penang, KL and Ipoh with family
• Demure Project start
• Pesta Pulau Pinang
• Books List complete
• Birthday celebration Sis Melissa and JM with family, friends
• Plan and Organize - December Holiday Kulai Star Fish Farm for 20 pax

Explored many places (with children) : 

Singapore

• Jurong Lake Garden x2
• Salvation Army
• JB101 Seafood Restaurant
• Jurong East Swimming Pool
• SEA Aquarium
• Pulau Ubin with JW
• Vivocity Stitch Theme
• Singapore Science Centre
• Bouncetopia by Kidztopia Plantation Plaza
• Plantation Farmway
• Westmall mini funfair
• Universal Studios Singapore 
• Northpoint City Playground
• West Coast Park
• Food Playground 
• Pickle Ball

Penang

• Kek Lok Si temple
• Roof of Deview Restaurant
  
• Georgetown Miao Hui
• Suffolk House
• Georgetown
• Munchkin & The Gang Cat Cafe
• Kidland
• Jaemi Wonderland
• Kids Adventure
• Baby Shark Adventure
• Heritage House
• Tambun Seafood
• Gurnay Bay Park
• Gurney Plaza
• Prangin Mall
• 1st Avenue
• Sunshin Farlim Central
• Queensbay
• Pesta Pulau Pinang

 Kuala Lumpur

• Lalaport x2
• Suffolk House
• KL Times Square
• Pavilion Bukit Jalil x2
• Little Pirates Playland x2
• Games On x2
• KL Petaling Street (Breakfast Spot, Chan Che Shu Yuan Temple, Hidden Bars, Coffee Spot)
• Midvalley Megamall
• FairyTale Art Craft
• B.Duck City Duck
• Connaught Night Market x 2
• IOI City Mall (Putrajaya), Moxy Hotel
• Pickle Ball
• Oh My pet Expo Midvalley
• Low Yat
• KF Kiddy Circuit
• REX KL (Book Xcess)

  Johor

• JB Kidz Republic x2
• Legoland x 3
• FunMax
• Utopia Jungle World
• Jumptopia Space Warriors

Genting

• Genting Premium Outlet
• Funtopia Largest Bouncy Castle
• VR

Ipoh

• Ming Court Dim Sum
• Upside Down World
• Concubine Lane
• Funny Mountain Soya Milk

Visited different countries : 

• Korea
• Germany
• Thailand
• Malaysia

2025 was a year filled with many great moments. Challenges turned into great learnings. 

In early the year, I had set 7 main goals and looking back, I had achieved and expanded beyond these goals.

Universal Studios Singapore | Christmas & New Year's Eve 2025

Brayden 8Y10M6D

Bevlynn 4Y6M30D

Christmas and New Year Eve celebration this year were a little more special. We celebrated them at Universal Studios Singapore. 

Some of the highlights:

Hollywood / Wicked 

The entrance was decorated with Wicked posters and pink flowers. There was a display of Wardrobe of the main characters

Performance - Trolls Hug Time Jubilee *

Meet and Greet - Glinda the Good, interaction with live characters "citizens from Oz"

Minion Land

Christmas Stage decoration. 

Rides taken - Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (super long queue), Buggie Boogie, Silly Swirly

Meet and Greet - Agnes and Margo (Christmas Edition)

Far Far Away

Rides taken - Puss in Boots Giant Journey, Magic Potion Spin, Shrek 4D, Enchanted Airways

"Bev at 4 years old wasn't scared on the roller coaster ride. She even pushed my hands away and said Weeeeeeeeeee" 

Meet and Greet - How to train your dragon handsome Hiccup and beautiful Astrid, Shrek and Fiona (Christmas Edition)

The Lost World

Rides taken -  Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure *, Canopy Flyer

"It was the last ride for the day. Due to Christmas and New Year's Eve, the rides closes at 8pm. The moment we arrived at Jurrasic Park Rapids Adventure, the night sets and the rain started pouring. We waited for almost 1 hour for the ride. Everyone started getting the poncho to prevent from getting too wet from the ride. The announcement kept mentioning that "Due to the weather, you will for sure get wet in this ride". We decided to go with no Poncho and get all WET! When it was our turn, we were very excited. Our neighbors in the same ride, were all in Ponchos, we weren't, they looked at us in amusement. 

Once the boat went out the sheltered away, a tinge of instant regret sets in. It wasn't just a drizzle, it was a heavy downpour. Oh well, might as well enjoy the rain! It really felt like an actual scene from the Jurassic movie; when the dinosaurs often choose this type of weather to make an attack. Bev and Bray were very excited, this was their first time on this ride. Such a dramatic one. When the Raptor appeared, Bev asked, "is it real Mommy?" I just nod but I think she knew the answer. We got 100% wet from the ride! We loved it. 

After the ride, we quickly ran to the toilet at the entrance to change into dry clothes."   

Meet and Greet - Raptor Encounter, Waterworld Characters 

Ancient Egypt

Rides taken - Treasure Hunters

Sci-Fi City

Rides taken - Transformers the Ride *, Accelarator

"Bev kept saying Weeeeee, it's fun! Bray mentioned let's go again!"

Meet and Greet - Megatron

New York

Rides taken - Lights Camera Action *, Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase *

Specials - Let it Snow! , Santa's Rockmas *

Meet and Greet - Santa's Rockmas Photo, Madagascar's Penguin (Christmas Edition) 

[* = highly recommended, very memorable]