The Handover & The Preludes. Part IV.

A whole list of to-dos came along with our sale & purchase.

For starters, a few days were spent on liaising with movers & viewing arrangements to get quotes for moving & storage.

As we decided to give up most of the bulky furniture except our dining table + benches, sofa & side tables, we planned to sell a few pieces on ebay & donate the rest to The Salvation Army. So I was busy monitoring our sale on ebay. I must say business was good & we've got quite a lot of enquiries:) Guess it's because our items were nice & priced very reasonably.

Started to pack since early July but it's a slow progress. Most of the time I was in front of the TV... breakfast, lunch & tea time.... Nice!:P Intensive packing began about a month ago.. started early so I'd have ample time to take intermittent breaks. On average, I packed only about 3 hours a day as any longer than that, my back couldn't take it.

This time round, packing is much tougher as almost every item we came across, we've to consider if we need them during that 4months+, especially for our clothes.

We moved out on the last Sunday of August & it's a very smooth 1. Punctual, fast & professional. Thank God. We'd such bad experiences with movers that having a responsible mover was really something worth giving thanks. The worst experience was when the mover arrived more than 6 hours later than scheduled time! We (us in the new place & a few family members @ the old place) waited for them since morning till about 4pm! We called them many times & each time they said they'd be there soon! Then we got to know they're at another assignment in the morning when they'd promised us to be at ours around 9am! But what to do? You can't afford to change mover at the last minute. So they know it too & pulled the unethical stunt.

The Proposal

Love this movie... it's so funny :) Totally worth the long wait since we first saw the trailer in cinema about 2 months ago.

We should be getting the DVD when it's out. Hee.

The Handover & The Preludes. Part III.

After some serious thoughts, we decided to go for a HDB flat. It's a shame to say that for the 4 years here, we've not enjoyed the facilities much. Some we haven't used it before.. the rest can be counted with 2 hands. We've also never participated in any of the events (flea market/fun fair/family day/AGM/etc) organised by the management/committee. So we thought it would be wiser to get a HDB flat, which is of no difference to our current lifestyle, & pay the rightful price. What we miss will be the close proximity & convenience of the basement car park though.

Started our home hunting immediately after buyer signed the OTP. Viewed a few units & both of us set eyes on the 1st one. But we didn't dare to commit as our buyer hadn't exercised the option then (still within the 2 weeks for buyer to settle their bank loan). We're a lil anxious that the unit we liked would be taken up by the time we're ready but we kept reminding ourselves that God was in control. 2 weeks later, the OTP was exercised by the buyer & we also got the place that we want!

Thank God for the perfect timing:) We sold high, when the property market was picking up, & bought low, before reaching its high when almost all home owners started to ask for cash above valuation especially for those units near MRT station. And ours was near Sembawang MRT & zero cash. 1 or 2 weeks after we bought our place, our agents told us prices went up & cash required by all sellers.....

The next was to settle the temporary housing issue. As the sale can be completed in 10 weeks & we might only get the keys to our new place, earliest, in mid Nov (1st appointment with HDB is ridiculously scheduled as far as in Oct!) & then renovate.... there's a lapse of 4 months+. We explored a few possible options & chose 1 that would (hopefully) cause the least inconvenience to everyone including ourselves. Mum will stay with sis & we'll be putting up @ Aunty GS' for these months.

Weekend enjoyment

Last Fri, I've planned a last minute half day program for the afternoon - to return my ex-boss a book he lent me but as the book was in our car, I'd to meet hubby at his workplace first. Then have tea with MS after returning the book.

Think I've read too much of my diaries, so decided to doll up.. get out of the house & temporarily shed the 宅女 role.. haha.

It's a rush but I managed to catch the last shuttle out. I was daydreaming throughout the journey to the station & only before I alighted that I realised I didn't bring my wallet!! My mind was a blank & I alighted. Then decided to ask the driver if he's going back to our place, knowing that's the last trip out for the afternoon. I hoped he would be kind enough to drive me back. When he said "no".. I intentionally frowned while wanting to walk away (sly huh!:P).. then he asked the reason, then he offered to lend me some $$. Obviously he wouldn't drive me back so I borrowed $2.. enough for me to take a train to hubby. He's a lil doubtful that $2 would be enough but I was firm.

Was relieved that my problem's solved. Then at the ticket vending machine, the amount appeared on the screen was $2.60 to go to Novena! Oh no..!!!!! For a few seconds, I stood there, bursting into cold sweat.... I was silly to forget about the refundable $1 deposit! :(( The next reflex was to call hubby....

K: Honey....! I'm at Yishun MRT station.. I forgotten to bring my wallet.
V: Oh no... then how baobei?
K: The shuttle driver lent me some money...
V: Wow... that's good.
K: But hor... I only borrowed $2 from him.. & the fare to Novena is $2.60! How, honey????
V: Huh?! Okok... which is the furthest station that your $2 can bring you to? I'll go there & save you.
K (walked to the fare chart): Eh... Khatib only.
V: Huh... furthest is Khatib??

We've no idea how expensive is the train fare nowadays....

Then hubby came up with a brilliant idea - I took a cab to Novena & he'd wait for me there:) I'm so forgetful! Was so happy to see hubby waiting for me at the taxi stand... Thanks honey!:* Due to the hassles, I was behind my schedule. By the time I got the book from hubby, it's already 3.10pm & I was supposed to meet MS @3.30pm. So I went ahead to meet MS first before returning the book. As it's raining & I forgotten to bring umbrella, MS picked me up @ OUB Centre then we'd tea in Far East Square since it's near to my next destination. I was quite a trouble that day... hmm.

Then at my old office, I'd the chance to catch up with old colleagues. It's a short stay & my next destination was Ngee Ann City, to my hairstylist, Justina, before seeing hubby again. Planned to get my hair done next month so wanted to consult her first... also wished to catch up with her.

Slightly past 6, back in Novena to meet hubby & then, off we went to Great World City. Had dinner at Crystal Jade, then the movie 'Management'. Was quite a lame show...

Saturday we spent more than half a day in Orchard.. went to Ion & Central. Bought a top at Uniqlo:)

Sunday... busy packing in the afternoon.

It's a good weekend!

The Handover & The Preludes. Part II.

After the ecstasy of the sale soon came my worries. I'd just started new job that needed lots of time in training & adapting. Then hubby would be starting his new job in a couple of weeks' time too. We know it's not advisable for both to change job at the same time but things happened in a way that we each got a new job almost simultaneously. So we encouraged ourselves to be optimistic... & let's focus on our new jobs for the moment. But I truly didn't expect that our place would be sold that soon. I asked God... why everything happened at the same time.... when I thought it's his plan for me to change job...... why? I dreaded the mere thought of having to juggle between a totally new job & moving, & home searching.. hubby would be busy in his new job too... & all the packing... my back......

After praying for a few nights & with hubby's backing, I decided to resign... honestly.. it's a relief after I made that decision. Then back in the office the next day, I told EH. He's very disappointed... so were the bosses. They said they had big plans for me but I didn't give myself a chance. They counter offered to let me stop work for a month to settle my housing issues. But I was determined to go as I'd lots of things to check out, to settle..

Yet there's this immense guilt in me as the bosses were very nice.. they granted immediate release (when it's supposed to be 2 weeks' notice during probation) but still paid me for that 2 weeks. And they told me to join them again if I'd settled all that I should have & was still interested in the job. Yes, they're just being too nice..... But I've really upset EH who fought a lot of benefits for me....

A girlfriend told me.. moving house wasn't the main reason.. but me not liking the job enough, was. And I hate to admit it. I did have "culture shock" on my 1st day of work. I couldn't find the toilet & was shock to learn that it's located at the other end of the compound, about a 2-minute shelterless walk from the single storey office building. I usually drink a lot of water, so naturally will go to washroom more often. My 1st thought was "if it rains, every time I go toilet I've to take an umbrella?" Also no shelter to the pantry. And the pantry was infested with big black ants. Alright, I could be too fussy:( I've been working in town/CBD since my 1st job so this is very new to me. But I asked quite a few of my friends & they, too, felt that it's strange to not having the toilet within the same premise. Am I defensive? So this is Doubt no. 1.

Doubt no. 2: I'd made known to EH prior joining that I'd not work on Saturdays. He acceded my request except for the 1st 3 months & I could accept that. But after I joined, I got to know that the monthly meeting was on every 3rd Sat. Then EH said it'd be best if I could join for just that 3 hours every month... so that'd mean working 1 Sat every month (as working hours are 8.30am-12.30pm on Saturdays) which I wasn't that willing to compromise.

Doubt no. 3: Afterall, I still couldn't bring myself to like this trade. Previously I'd chances to get into this business but I declined. I thought I'd have changed after these years. Guess it should be the crux of all doubts?

Till now I don't know what are God's plans for me in the future. I don't know why things turned out this way. Maybe one day, I'll know. Though I'm very happy with the break I'm having now, I do feel bad for ruining my own CV for the past 1 year. I'm truly upset with myself for the mess I continually get myself into. Without hubby's support, I might have slipped into a self-blaming & depressing state. Hubby has always managed to give new perspective of things.

Friday night Date

Watching The Proposal tomorrow night, @ Plaza Singapura.

Hubby's got the tix this afternoon ;)

Looking forward to our date!

The Handover & The Preludes. Part I.

Another 13 days, we'll say bye bye to our first home.

Started my new job on 8 Jun & on 14 Jun, we sold our place after marketing it for about a month. We're so happy.... when many thought it's quite an impossible price we're asking including our agent, we got it sold with our God's grace.

It's such a fulfilling experience with God that we'd love to share with every1 :)

In May, the property market started to show signs of revitalisation but mainly for new & upmarket developments.. so we didn't feel it. As our loan would be up for refinancing this Nov, we would have to decide whether to sell or refinance by Aug. We decided to give a try & set the selling price after praying. Our agents advised us to start early (in May) as given the market then, it'd take a few months to get a buyer. They also preempted us that we've overpriced our place as banks were very conservative in valuating properties (ie. the difference between valuation & asking price would have to be paid in cash). Nevertheless they would still try, at our desired price, for a while to test market. As we're in no urgency to sell, if the price wasn't right, we'd continue to stay here & go for the refinance option.

I'm glad to say we're not worried then... just committed all seeming problems to prayer together every night.

Our buyer is a family of 3 from China. The husband's sister & family are in fact staying in the same development. They were really a Godsend. Why? We guessed our neighbour so wanted to have her family members stay close to them that whenever the brother & SIL picked at the flaws, she & her husband would jump to our defence. Undoubtedly, their words were much more convincing than our agent's or ours. Then, the crucial part was... the buyer didn't need a full loan (ie. 80% of the purchase price). So the big gap between lower valuation & higher price posed no problem in our case.

We're also thankful that God has blessed us with very experienced property agents who are husband-wife team. We met 3 years ago & found them nice & truthful. For this sale, they planned everything real well & we're impressed by their 'strategies'.

In the caveats lodged for our development, our price psf is the highest for this year. ;)

Dear Diaries,

Thanks for the precious memories :)

I was doing packing & found my diaries from secondary school & college days...

Then I spent those time that's supposed to be used on packing in reading journals.

I used to feel lonely & unwanted as almost all the girls around me were attached then. I'd many crushes before but none was reciprocated. I asked so many 'Whys' & thought very lowly of myself.

Could still recall the innocence & dejectedness in me as I read. Studying could be boring or stressful then & the most enjoyable time gotta be looking out for, then eventually seeing my target of infatuation, be it for just 1 second but I could spend the whole day trying to analyse if he'd noticed me & decipher his body language.

There're so many incidents I've long forgotten & thanks to the diaries, my mind was once again refreshed.

I thank the Lord as I now have everything that I've previously yearned for, & even much bountiful than I could have asked.......
- I used to think that I was such an awful person that no guy would like me. But now, I'm so loved & pampered in a princessly way by a wonderful man whom I call hubby.
- I used to be so deprived of material comforts as we're poor & going out with classmates was usually difficult as I'd no money to splurge.. so needless to talk about vacation.Now, though we're not rich, I lack nothing & have been blessed with holidays with hubby, so far, to France, Korea, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia.... & there're still many many countries we plan to visit in the future!
- I used to be a timid gal who's very homebound & completely reliant on my family; I'd not taken a flight before till I was 21 & that's going to KL for work.But when I've grown up, due to work, I was trained to be independent as I'd to travel All Alone bi-monthly mainly to ASEAN countries (France, HK, China, Taiwan at times).

Very easily, we take the things we're enjoying now for granted. But those that we call basics now could have been our fantasies many years ago.

So I'll continue to keep these diaries well. They serve as an encouragement & reminder for me :)

None Given Up

I've made a few attempts to clear my shoe cabinet for the last weeks but none of the pairs went into the trash bag. Headache...

Scheduled for 1 last round of packing next Monday. But I, more or less, know what's the outcome.

- First shelf belongs to mum, plus 1 pair (left) on 2nd shelf.
- Last 2 shelves are for hubby's (but I borrowed some space on last shelf to pile my red/white adidas, a pair of red sneakers & a pair of yellow adidas).
- I take up 4 shelves & they are being over-used! Have resorted to stacking & "double parking" (front & back) but still not enough :(