I love sleeping

Usually I take an hour (or so) to pat the boys to sleep.

No.. I don't really pat them for an hour, but you know, laze around and sing songs to them. At the right moment, a min or two of shoulder patting encourages them to sleep.

This afternoon I was doing just that and I was thinking that these kids do require parents to be around and they need us to sleep comfortably and safely, soundly.

I love the moments before a child doze off, when they blink their eyes so slowly and then just shuts them, snoozing immediately.

This month, I've been away for a while, traveling for new skills and product training. So its been a while since I pat them to sleep.

It felt great. As they both doze off, I laid down between them, hearing their deep breathing.

I wondered, if I'm the one who require them to sleep beside me more then they need me?


Regards,

CT Neo
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Experience

What's better? Or what makes you happier?

Buying a new, latest model, award winning car, or a road trip with your spouse down a run down river village along Cambodia?

Its hard to judge, there's obviously no saying of right and wrong. But most people get accustomed to things, every human being does. Remember when you moved house and felt you will never get used to living in a new town or when you changed job and had evil colleagues to juggle with.

We all, in a way, adapt very quickly to our environment. Part evolution, part natural survival? Maybe.

How long can that new car keep you happy? Maybe a year. Of course the initial thrill is undeniable! (I get excited thinking of getting a new car even!)


Memory, or experience on the contrary are priceless and everlasting.

Traveling, be it in a beautiful countryside of Switzerland, a cosmopolitan city of Japan or just having street food off the sides of Bangkok brings much joy, for a long, long time. I always remember my first Hokkaido trip with my wife and we had to run while on top of a mountain because we were freezing our ass off. Temperature and wind was so cruel that my knees felt frozen. It hurt really bad and I'm sure she felt worst, but I smile everytime I remember that scene. Its when I realize my wife was really able to endure a lot and not complain to me or start whining like a puppy or start to frown and be upset.

I always believe traveling makes people happy. The destination is not the most important, but the planning, journey and experience is.

Sometimes, I have to do more then required to ensure that my family enjoy the trip, a lot of planning and a lot of double checking. But... I guess that's part of the experience.

A pity I could not bring the family on to Europe with me this trip.

Regards,

CT Neo
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

K2

No, Its not Kindergarten 2.

Its my spanking new K2, Softboots Inline Skates!

Yes - For those wondering aloud if I can skate. I can.

Its just that as many things in life, skating is also graded... And I happen to be on the lower end of that scale - a self learned recreational skater. The last time I own a pair of skates and skated was in Secondary 3! So its not hard to imagine when I first tried on the skates in the shop earlier, how scary everything was. Especially when this round, I'm buying a intermediate range of skates (read: better wheel size, better bearings, better frame, but at a good discount. Haha).

But it all turned out well. I realised I remembered everything about skating, except how to brake. Which happens to be the most important thing.

So its going to take a while (just time) and hopefully not take down any passerby.

I got Mrs Neo a TRix, which I felt was a good exercise scooter - safe and all. I got Mum a foldable bike. A pair of Skates for myself. I'm now looking forward to a whole lot of a healthier us.

*Sales man says keep the invoice... Soft copy will do.

明天开门咯！

Finally, after what feels like eternity.

Which honestly is eternity! Since 2007 to be exact, we purchase the flat and had recently, finally, for the longest time, collected our keys to our new lovely nest (yes, its small. Just 96SQM, all in).

And tomorrow, we will step into it!

3years of waiting. From a bare patch of land to what it is now. Its tough waiting, but heck, its here already!

I'm so thrilled and excited!!! I can't wait!

But amidst those feeling, I wonder how much renovation will cost.

Naughty

My mum use to tell me that I always fall sick before CNY because I had been naughty.

And it seems miraculous, because I can he fine the whole year. And yet fall ill just once, before CNY. But I haven't been getting it for a few years now (touch wood). So I guess I've been good.

Can't say so for the boys.
Enzo just recovered from his 2 days of fever. Today he's back to his playful self and Everett got the fever. We are guessing its some type of virus. Enzo had it slightly worst and as it was New Years day, we even had to send him to KK's A&E when he reached 38.8! Doctor was assuring us that fever can even be 41 and nothing will happen (touch wood, touch wood). I'm sure the doctor got no children.

Siao ah! Fever cannot play play mah. Crazy bugger. Anyway, Enzo was all clear and it was just a virus. The virus, did spread to Everett. Twins.. Unavoidable huh.

So I guess they had been naughty.
But babies are naughty mah. Don't blame them ok.

Get well, stay strong boys!
Daddy and Mummy loves you both!

Twins are forever amazing.

2011's Prediction

Most people are concerned about how 1st January of each year is going to affect how their year will be like.

I'm not sure if there's any truth in it.

But while I was waiting for the lift earlier this evening, a cockroach landed on my right neck. Its one of those big flying cockroach.

Cockroach = Pest.

靠啦！What's going to happen to my 2011?!?!! Swamped with pest?

Maybe, but come to think about it, I did overcome the pest, I slapped it (yes, right on my neck), although not killing it, made it fly away and lose a leg.

So, must be a good year for me 啦.
Whoever gets in my way, I will cripple you!

2011, Here I come!!!

2011 New Year's Resolution

Its the start of the year again.

Since I got matured enough to know of the thing call "New Year Resolution", I've been secretly setting things I want to do every year, probably for the past at least 12 years (Started since I was 18).

This year it's no different. I decided to pen down my resolution. Hopefully I make it work. I have to admit, I always forget my new year's resolution by March of April! But it's not important, those are previous years. This is 2011 and its all different. We were all supposed to be killed by the millennium bug 11 years ago, so probably the person who set this resolution forgot to slaughter us all as well.

I don't blame whoever came out with that story (else we would all be dead) and neither blame myself for not remembering my resolutions.

Mr Neo's 2011 New Year Resolutions:

1) Lead a healthier life, run everyday (unless it ends late) on every overseas trip.
2) Have more patience towards my family and do more things to make family time enjoyable.
3) Read the newspapers every weekday.
4) Save more money.
5) Be more detailed and precise at work, have more tolerance.

I think 5 is more then enough for me to handle. I would be happy if I can fufil all 5 of these.

2011, here I come!

For you boys, only.

Daddy went to the library and paid up his super long time ago outstanding payment for books borrowed and returned late.

All so that Daddy can borrow books for you boys next time.

1hr to Mrs Neo Birthday, 25hrs to 2011

Happy Birthday 老婆！

Amazingly, as the boys was rollin in bed trying to fall asleep, they both suddenly start crying for mama and crawled towards Mrs Neo, asking for her attention.

I tried to pull Everett away, but he's as determined as Enzo to have Mummy all for himself. They seldom ever do this at all. Maybe they know its Mummy's birthday and wants to sleep with her? Amidst the screaming and crying. We were both laughing and wondering if the boys really knew.

Birthdays spend after marriage is one thing, it may (or may not) get more romantic. But birthdays after kids are negligible! I don't even have time to sit down and eat Mac Donalds + watch the soccer replays on the TV, much less plan for some candlelight dinner with the a small live band on top of Mount Faber. I again ask myself is it because I have twins and that makes me busy?

I cannot answer that. I never had a single baby birth to compare with. How would I know if single baby parents have it any easier? Maybe its the same, just that I do things twice, like change 2 times of diapers instead of once? Feed baby 2 times, instead of once? But the time spend, should be the same. So...

2010 have been awesome for me.
Now I'm 30 (damn it). Not too old, but beginning to be so.

Every year, at this time, I will wonder about my career. If I should continue and work and stay in this same company. Don't be mistaken. I love my job, I'm an easy going person. But I love money too (so I'm in sales).
February, also marks my increment opportunity. We have reviews every year during this period and we get to know the amount we will get for next year. So... I usually get very emotional at this time.

Always feeling underpaid, but not too much to complaint about the job. So how huh? Look around for a new job or what? I always tell myself to wait for increment then see, then I end up working another year and then the cycle continues. You get it...

But I'm so ready for 2011.
It marks the collection of my new flat.
My boys going to playschool.
A bigger job scope at work.

All seems good to go!
Ready or not? Here I come!

Thank you 2010!

Nearly brought a private property

23rd - 26th December 2010

Ev.En's First Overseas Trip

Kuala Lumpur, the capital state of Malaysia. That's the place we chose to bring the boys on their first ever overseas venture.

Everything from planning the trip to the actual plane ride was exhilarating. We had no idea how they would react in the plane, which was part of the reason why we chose KL due to its 40minutes flight time. We also had no idea how they will sleep in the hotel. But everything was organized and only on the last day when the boys finally got used to the bed, we are already packed and heading home.

We went to KLCC, had lunch at Imbi Palace, went shopping at Mid Valley, had Klang Ba Kut Teh for breakfast and had cakes from the hotel every night for supper!

Even went to see a show unit!
SGD 300k+ and you can get a spanking brand new semiD. 2 levels, with a parking pouch, fully tiled, dry and wet kitchen, a small side yard, full glass MBR window. Just need to pay RM 10k upfront! Somemore can take a 30years installment.

Imagine buying one and owning a landed property in Malaysia, can drive there over the weekend and treat it like a chalet. 哇靠！爽爆了！

To add to the benefits, property will increase in valuation. I may be making money in the process.

Mrs Neo: You like ah?
Mr Neo: Like la, its so 華數. So big leh the house, somemore can stay near Leo & Shuben.有照應嗯.

Seriously. If I had extra money. Why not eh?