When I thought I forgot....I remembered

To be able to step back into the gates, which locked lots of my happiest and worst memories during my teenage years, was an emotional roller coaster ride.

Remembering the people who made a big difference to my life till this day
Remembering the many expressions on their faces that are now etched in my brain
Remembering the dialogues exchanged during the good and bad times
Remembering the day I befriended stage-fright and have yet to unfriend 'her'
Remembering the heat on my face when I held the microphone and words just came out wrong

The buildings are different now
The colours on the walls have changed too
Even my secret hideout is no longer around anymore

The feeling was ineffable.

One moment, "I know this place."
Another moment, "Nothing seems familiar anymore."

As the students performed
As I watched my boy danced and cheered with his new found friends at the center of the parade square
I recalled the day my ex-classmates and I performed a medley of songs for our beloved final year teacher and made her cried.

The fire continued to burn in the darkness
and my head continued to play the scenes of more than 20 years ago...

And the magical moment came when the emcee said, "We will now sing the School Song."
That very second, I can't even recall the tune.
That very instant, I can't even remember the first line.
And everyone stood
Turned to face the school flag

And the prelude started
and my tears weld up
I sang
I remembered the words
I remembered the tune
When I thought I forgot.....I remembered.

I remembered where I stood during flag raising
I remembered who stood beside me when we said the pledge
I remembered my pleated pony tail
I remembered my well tugged-in uniform
I remembered!!!!
*Goosebumps All Over*

You know,
sometimes when our life is so overwhelmed by the daily happenings, the weekly struggles, the monthly duties.....we thought we forgot what simplicity is.
But when the right place, meets the right time, with the right people....
Everything becomes so Crystal Clear and Pure.

Am so grateful to be invited for the school campfire... a chance for me to travel down memory lane once again....
Thank You.


When I thought I forgot....I remembered

Do you Respond to Life or do you React to Life

Today had been a looooooooooong day of celebration for my boys!
Exams over for both!
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
*clap clap clap*

We spent some good hours of bonding through playing and laughing together.
Now, for those readers who had been following my blog since years back might wonder if I had played too much and ain't thinking right anymore; and hence am blogging at the wrong blog.
This sounds like it should be posted in my Parenting Blog instead of here, isn't it?

Well,
not so.

Cos my focus for today is........, after a long day of fun, the kids had no trouble finding the Z monster for more fun PLUS hubby granted me my me-time *cheeky wink*, I decided to do some self-reflection.

Actually, this is something that I do o-so-often.
And while I was doing that, I chanced upon a very meaningful story.
Rather, its a speech from a very intelligent man, Sundar Pichai,  CEO of Google Inc.

He shared a story about a cockroach.

Though the story was short, it was exactly what I needed for tonight.
And through that story, I learned that:

I should not react in life.
I should always respond.

Reactions are always instinctive whereas
responses are always well thought of.

A beautiful way to understand............LIFE.

An excellent way to understand why things happened or did not happen to our lives.
It was because we hit the panic button too fast.
Too thoughtlessly......

Once again, the phrase that is buried deep in my heart rose again
"When emotions are high, intelligence is low."

Something that I still need to work on constantly
Something that I still need to remind myself daily.

And last but not least, I fell in love with a new phrase:

A person who is HAPPY is

 not  because Everything is RIGHT in his/her Life...

He/she is HAPPY

 because his/her Attitude towards Everything in his/her Life is Right..!!

*** Cockroach Story, click HERE.

Are You Behaving Like a Business Owner?

Successful Business Owners will tell you that Building a Business is Tough.
Successful Business Owners will tell you that Sacrifices are Inevitable.
Successful Business Owners will tell you that Failure is Part of the Journey......

Wise and Oh-So-True Words from Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba (Translated from the Video below):


"Spend time to find out why businesses fail and NOT why businesses succeed."
"If you have chosen to build a business, then you should not be afraid to fail. If you Cannot Accept/Handle Failure, then DON'T BUILD a Business.

•  Failure is not as scary as you think. Failing will not put you behind bars (so what's there to be afraid of?). When you fail, stand up and try again. "

"Life is NOT looking at What You Have Achieved, but What You Have Experienced throughout your life."

True Wealth is found in Mistakes and Failures.

The Mistakes that others make, we will make too. Don't overestimate yourself (put down your ego), humans are more or less the same.

• Only when you AVOID those mistakes, you have a chance to succeed.

Characters of an Entreprenuer:

1. Positive Attitude and Mindset towards the Future
2. Does NOT Complain : Always Self-Checking, Self-Edifying.
3. Level of Determination and Perseverance is higher than normal people.

Without these 3 characters, you won't go far in building a business.

Almost ALL Successful People has this attribute :
Whenever a mistake is made or whenever they fail, these people will look at themselves, realise what was done wrongly. "I didn't do this correctly, I need to adjust myself, my methods, my behaviour. I was wrong."

• Successful People is always adjusting themselves and NOT correcting others.

Does your mindset, attitude and behaviour match that of an Entreprenuer?

Post by Speak Out HK 港人講地.

Want a Better Life? Start Visualising!

Decided to do a post dedicated to those who are unhappy with their current life.
To those who aspire to have a better life for themselves or their families.

2009 was the big turning point in my life
The year I Unleashed the Power Within me through Tony Robbins.
He taught me something very powerful and it changed my life Tremendously!
The power of Visualizing!


Though the video below may not be from Tony Robbins, but the things that were said gave me goosebumps as it brought memories of me among the thousands in that big hall listening to every word Tony Robbins said over those 4 nights.







The following are the key points from the video, with some of my added thoughts:

***
We, as humans, has something that no animals have, and that is called IMAGINATION.
Imagination allows us to see 'it' BEFORE it happens.
Go into 10 years later, 20 years later, and 'see' yourself actually becoming the person you want to be.
Take 30mins.
Go into a room.
Find a quiet corner.
And start imagining......

Its not just you who have problems and issues to settle.
Everybody who has ever been great and successful,
has obstacles to overcome and barriers to climb.

Live in your future.
Go into your future.
Stop focusing on now.
Stop talking about the past.
Go into YOUR Future.
Where you want to be many years from now.
Who you want to be..........ultimately.....

Go into the future every day.
Close your eyes and start visualizing.
What you are to be, you are now becoming.
So you have to use your imagination.
Your imagination have to take you beyond the pain, the trouble, and take you to the next level.
We have to see ourselves there, long before it happens.

I have to have FAITH to believe the things that I see 10 / 20 years from now, that one day I will be successful.

Sometimes its going to be hard
You look around you and you don't see evidence of success
You got to BELIEVE that ONE DAY WILL BE YOUR DAY!

When you are tired and you feel like giving up.
You need to press on and BELIEVE.

IF you quit, NO DAY WILL BE YOUR DAY!

Its important to learn from each and every one of your mistakes.
Fail, yes.
But get up and try again
Fail, yes.
But continue to move forward.
Fail, yes.
But NEVER EVER Give Up that Dream!
The Dream of who you ultimately want to be, what you want to give to your family, your children, your loved ones, yourself.

You HOLD ON!
Get tired? I say get doubly tired!
Its worth it when you FINALLY get there.
When I looked back at the tears I fought, the heartache, the headaches and eventually get to where I want to be, that sweetness of success is BEYOND DESCRIPTION!
Its Worth It!
HOLD ON!

I would NEVER have reached my goal, if I hadn't used my imagination.

***
FEAR is NOT REAL!
The only place that fear can exist is in our Thoughts of the Future
It is a PRODUCT of our IMAGINATION
Causing us to Fear things that are NOT Present and May NOT Ever Exist!
Fear is a CHOICE!

Only those who is going Too Far,
Can possibly find out how far one can Go!

The dream has to be so Clear that every morning when you wake up,
You Step right into your dream!
Every day you wake up,
You have to start with that VISION!

And the 1st Step for me,
Was Seeing Something I Was Not,
Before I was.

YOU CAN DO IT!
Where you are is TEMPORARY!
You will not be there for the rest of your life!

There is no reason to have Plan B
Because it distracts from Plan A.

I don't want to see what I think I can do
I don't want to see what I think I can be
I want to see what my LIFE would look like when I go further than anyone would.

ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WITHOUT PAIN!

BELIEVE that there is still Time
So long as there is still breath in your nostrils
So long as you can still wake up in the morning

Before anyone else in the world Believes in you
You Have To Believe In Yourself!

You got to do what Works for you.
No one has the right to stop you
No one has the right to tell you that you can't.
Only you decide What you Really Want.

You are where you are because of who you are
If you want to get to somewhere else, you have got to change something!
Change that something and
Start Visualizing Now!

Words Spoken Cannot Be Retrieved

Just like spilled milk.
Can you really retrieve 100% back?
Even if you soak it up with a super absorbing sponge,
what about the spots on the floor?
Even when you try your best to squeeze every drop from the sponge back to the glass,
to create back the 'look' of a glass of milk,
the quantity will never be the same as before it was spilled.

Why am I talking about this?

Because I have a lump in my throat and I hadn't been feeling good about it.
So as my faithful readers of my blogs would know, I need to spit it out.
To make myself feel better.
To act as a reminder for myself that I should NOT be such a person too.

It was not me.
I'm in no way involved.

I LOVE and TREASURE EVERY FRIENDSHIP.

Regardless how we met.

Regardless how long we chat.

Regardless of our habitat.

Probably that's why I often have friends who come to me to tell me their deepest thoughts and their darkest secrets.
Over the years, this has Not decrease in numbers.
I guessed that tells alot about how much my friends trust me and I ALWAYS REMIND MYSELF, NEVER EVER to take that trust lightly.
***Thank You****
***Hugs***

The victim came to me.
Let's call the victim 'Y'
Y told me that the person Y least expected had been having negative thoughts about Y.
Let's call Y's friend 'X'.

X and Y had been friends for decadeS.
Y had always been looking out for X.
When X needed advise, X would call Y too.

Recently, their common friend told Y that X badmouthed Y.
Let's call this common friend W.

When I heard the full story from Y,  my first thought was, what's the MOTIVES behind the actions of W?

They are common friends.
What good is there to tell Y about how X feels, when its so negative?
Are you trying to break the relationship between Y and X?
To spark a quarrel?
My question to W is "Can you handle it if it really happened?!"
Or should I say, "That was your plan, wasn't?".....

GROW UP FOR GOODNESS SAKE!
Such tale telling are for school kids "I friend you. I don't friend you. So and so said this and that about you........."

To me, even the best of friends will have something which the other does not like.
Its normal!!!
Even if they are so alike in thoughts and taste and dressing and what have you.
Haven't you heard, like poles repel?

Over the years, I have learned one VERY VERY IMPORTANT lesson.

If I did Not hear from the horse's mouth, I Choose NOT to believe.

There is always such a thing call MISUNDERSTANDING.
There are selective listeners.
There are lousy speakers, who cannot find the right words to express THE EXACT THOUGHTS.

Do you know how detrimental these 2 types of people start talking?!
The result can go 9000 feet underground.
Its that harmful.
Its that HURTFUL when what they THOUGHT they said, or what they THOUGHT they heard is being transferred to another person.

So what did I tell Y?
"Does it matter? 
Will you still care about X, even IF those words were really said? 
What do you think is the purpose of W telling you all these? 
You know X for decades, won't you think you know X better than W, who hardly talk to X in years?"

Y quietened and found the answer in Y's heart.

=========


If I heard someone tell me something bad about another person, that is his/her opinion.
I have NO RIGHT to pass someone else's thoughts.
When I am a listener, I BE A LISTENER!

Humans are loving creatures.
Humans need relationships of all sorts to find emotional rest.
So why choose to break one, when you have one to treasure?

Think!
Please!

All I can say is what W did was TOTALLY UNNECESSARY, unless W has something up W's sleeves.........which apparantly, when taken few steps back and look at the entire situation from an outsider's point of view, its highly possible.......

Then again, never assume.
Time will reveal what's hidden under W's sleeves.............

Unhappy With Your Life now?

Deciding NOT to remain where you are is the first step toward success.

~ Kelly Hazlitt

If you are unhappy with your life now,

desire to change it because you know you deserve better than what you are going through now.

Make that decision this very moment to take that step OUT of your own comfort zone;

and make a difference to your life.

If your source of unhappiness is due to your income, and you are looking for a business venture that does NOT require you to quit your current job, do drop me an email at 1568rich@gmail.com , I am looking for committed business partners who are willing to sacrifice 2 hours a day to build the business with me.

Cheers to a Better Life!

Goal Setting

I saw a number of goal setting quotes today, but the 3 that struck me were:

People Don't Plan to Fail.

They Simply Fail To Plan.

==========

The Clearer The WHY,

The Harder You Will Try.

===========

If You Aim At Nothing,

You Are Probably Going To Hit Nothing.

 Is your goal "SMART" enough?
S pecific
M easurable
A ttainable
R realistic
T imely

When was the last time you set a goal and did not stick to it?
When was the last time you set a goal and it was way out of reach?

To me, 'R' is the most important : Realistic.
Do I need to bend too much till it hurts?

A little push, a little challenge, a little beyond my usual self is fine.
Only then, will I stick to it.
Only then, will I see success.
Only then, will my goal be achieved.

If I need to bend too much till it hurts, I probably will not persevere for long.
Knowing my own limits help me to be on track and reach the destination in the end.

When we were young, we Dream.
Even the Biggest, Wildest Dream.
As we grow older, its not that we have no more dreams.......... 
we Dare NOT Dream anymore....
because along the way, too many dreams were crushed.

Don't lose hope....
Only when we dare to dream, will we have purpose in life, or we would just be doing the daily routine....till the day we die.

So chin up, get a pen and paper, write down your 'SMART' goal and paste it on your mirror. Look at it every day and work towards it.

Be it big or small.....
To our Dreams...
CHEERS!

Fear is NOT Real

"Fear is not real.

The only place that fear can exist

 is in our thoughts of the future.

It is a product of our imagination,

causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist.

That is near insanity Kitai.

Do not misunderstand me,

danger is very real,

but fear is a choice.

We are all telling ourselves a story and that day mine changed"

~Cypher Raige, from the movie "After Earth"

Had been feeling lost in recent months, over several different things.

Watched the DVD of "After Earth" today and his words struck me like a lightning.

It was the story that I had been creating in my own mind, about the future, about what MAY come, that is giving me the sense of lost, the sense of fear.

ITS TIME....TO CHANGE THAT STORY!

This time, it shall be.....

A Story Of HOPE!

Since its all in my head, I should create a story that is worth living for.... than a story that gives me the negative vibes the whole time.

Since we have to live this life anyway.....why not live with happy thoughts in the head, than fearful ones.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Cheers!

 

My Birthday 2013

Ever since I left my singlehood status, this year's birthday celebration with my family had been the unhappiest birthday celebration and I hope it will stay as the unhappiest record. I want my HAPPY JOYFUL, FULL OF LAUGHTER birthday celebrations like what I had....in my previous years. There were tears, angry words exchanged and disappointments this year......

Birthday celebration had always been something that I TREASURE ALOT with my family when I was still single, because it is the ONLY day whereby no matter how much quarrels and fights go around daily, on this day, my parents will be at peace with each other and have our usual midnight cake-cutting ceremony.

To many, birthday is just a special day for the birthday person every year.
But to me, birthday is a day I see my parents smile....
Regardless if it was my father's, my mother's, my sister's or my birthday, the other 3 will try their best to make the birthday person happy.

Therefore since young, birthdays hold a very special place in my heart.
Its a day that tells me that no matter how tough life was for the past 364 days, this is THE DAY that everything will be fine.

Very fairy tale?
Maybe.
But to me, its a hope.
A feeling of contentment and gladness.

======

My elder one had been sick few days before my birthday and when its time for the midnight cake cutting session, he was asleep. Though my thoughtful boy did set his alarm to wake him up 10mins before the clock struck 12 midnight, he woke to tell me that he was too tired. I understand and so this is the FIRST YEAR (if I remembered correctly) I did not have my midnight cake cutting session with my current family.

The kids agreed to cut the cake before they go to school the next day, but in the end, they did not. They were unwilling to wake up when I woke them up in the morning. So we decided to cut the cake after my birthday dinner.

Life was as per normal in the afternoon. School work and piles of them....by the time all was completed, it was about time for dinner.

Just before my birthday dinner, siblings verbal fights started, but was under control when we reached Jack's Place.

After a sumptuous meal, we got home and were ready for my cake cutting moment. I like to cut cakes at night, when its really dark, which is why we waited till dinner was over.
Yet, instead of seeing how entusiatic my boys are over how many candles each of them could help me put on my cake, a real fight happened between them. This is VERY RARE!

It is common that they have dreadful verbal exchanges, but to have a REAL fight with fists and legs in action is something that hhhhhmmmmmmm....I could not even recall when was the last time!!!! So this was the first time I watched my boys having a REAL tussle.......and it happened to be on my birthday....
And its JUST BEFORE they were supposed to sing me my happy birthday song!

I was very sad.
I was very disappointed.

Hubby and I broke them up and my younger one was crying uncontrollably. Another very rare sight.

Hubby wanted to just get the cake cutting session over and done with, with his own effort without my boys. Meaning, he will be the only one singing the birthday song for me.
I refused!

If I were to go ahead when my elder one's face was as black as charcoal and my younger one's face red with fiery tears, (I know myself), I will always remember this horrible birthday on every of my future birthdays.

Birthdays = Happiness
Birthdays = Laughters
Birthdays = Hope

That's what birthdays are to me and I will NOT let anything or anyone ruin this little belief I had held on to, for all my life.

So I told the kids how disappointed I was.
Hubby added: "How would you feel if it was YOUR birthday???!!!"
I told them that I will be giving them a few minutes to cool down.
I told them that I want a LOUD JOYFUL Birthday Song, but its unachievable when the two of them have not calmed down.

I waited......
The tears dried.
The colour of their faces went back to normal.

I know they were ready.
And after that, they REALLY MADE ME HAPPY again!!!!
They smiled.
They giggled.
They sang....oh so LOUD!!!
*Super Grin*

If I had not shared the story with you....would you have expected such drama actually happened before the photos below were taken??????

My Favourite FIRE STEAK!

Ssssmmmmokingly Yummy!

No matter how the celebration began, I am glad that it still ended with smiles on faces.

This year, like previous year, I had my birthday celebration with 3 different groups, my own family, my sister and BIL and my closest secondary school friends.

I love to try new things on my birthday or dine at places which I had not been to for a long time, which is why I chose Jack's Place (its been years since my last visit) above and Ambush (first time) with my sister and BIL.

As usual, endless topics to talk about and we chatted till the restaurant started to close for the day! *laugh* Its really not easy to make this group stop talking.......Thank you sis and BIL for the treat! *hugs*

=========

Ever since I visited KISEKI with my own family last year, see post "My Birthday 2012", I vowed to re-visit this awesome restaurant again! Loved the ambience and the food!

 However, one of our 'gang member' could not join us because of health issues, so we decided to meet again on another day. Partly also because my friend forgot to take my birthday present with her when she left her office. So we had to fix this meet-up to pass the present to me.

 This is the first time, ever since I got married, we are meeting up NOT because of any of our birthdays. The feeling was really nice. The best part is, the food at this Pique Nique (below) is REALLY YUMMY! None of us have been there before, its our first time in this cozy restaurant and we were definitely well-fed! YUM!

Presents from my 'Girl Gang'

 Thank you girls!
Looking forward to our next meet up in December!

Yup!
That's it for my birthday for year 2013!

I also want to thank all who wished me on Facebook, Watsapp, Messenger, Skype, SMS.
*Super Hugs*

First Blood Donation

I could not sleep last night.
Imagining the needle, the pain, the blood.

For someone who fears injection of any sort, this was a huge step to leap.

Whenever I go for regular checkup, the nurses who take my blood always had to try all ways and means to un-tense me. They will try to tell me jokes, ask me questions, to distract me. I would also look away and clench the fist of my other hand. But nothing works, because I would be so stressed up that I would not respond to them. The nurse from my last regular checkup, after several attempts, jokingly said: "Aiyo! You so tense, I cannot even poke the needle in, its as hard as rock."

Whenever something bothers me, I will need to voice it out and my favourite confidante is hubby. Lying beside him in bed at past midnight, he told me about his previous blood donation experience, preparing me for what is to come. Still, it was difficult for someone who has slight phobia of needles to stay calm.

Then he said, "If you are so scared, then don't go."
But its for the good of Others and myself too.
So its yet another moment of 'Act Inspite of Fear' for me again.

I had walked on Fire before.
I had broke a wooden stick with it piercing at my throat before.
So what's this?
I can do it.
I must do it!

Morning came and I was totally ready to go for my very first Blood Donation, after self-psychoing myself the whole night.

Everyone was super friendly there.
I filled up a form.
Registered myself.
Interviewed by a doctor, who examined my blood pressure.
Then I moved on to test my hemoglobin level.
The minimum hemoglobin level for blood donations is 125 g/L (12.5 g/dL). Its the same criteria for both men and women.

I started to get nervous at this point.
Its the first POKE of the day.
First sight of blood this morning.

Once again, I looked away.
She punctured the tip of my middle finger.
Took my blood and put it into a mini machine to test my hemoglobin level.
It was 11.9 g/dL !!!!!

BELOW the minimum requirement!
I was NOT ALLOWED to donate my blood.

My souvenir from the activity:

She gave me a box of iron tablets and told me to eat it after meal each time.
Advised me to eat more vegetables and red meat to increase my hemoglobin level.
Then, she said, "Try again, one month later, at our Blood Bank."

She thanked me for the thought and I was directed to the door.

I shook my head as I walked towards my family who was waiting for me.
Hubby looked surprised.
I was surprised too......at my own emotions. I realised I was sad that I could not donate.
Shouldn't I be happy? I do not need to go through what I fear.
But I was unhappy instead.

Then I asked hubby: "Do you want to donate yours?"
He thought for a while and went to get a form for himself.

Now....I wished I had not asked that question......
I blame myself now for what he had to go through because of what I asked.....
Here's why :

He went through everything that I did and his hemoglobin level was 14plus, so he was eligible for the blood donation.

Everything was all cool!
We stood by him.
He chatted with us.
Kids asked lots of questions.....as usual.

Then suddenly, the attendant noticed that hubby's blood has stopped flowing.
*JAWS DROPPED*

Then the senior attendant sought permission to PUSH THE NEEDLE FURTHER in to try to 'search for better blood flow'.
*SCREAM*

Hubby was all calm and composed.
But the 3 of us who were beside him felt the stress and pain.
My elder one was so scared he had to cover his eyes.

She tried.
And tried.
And TRIED!!!!

Still no blood flow!
She kept asking hubby if it was painful and suggested that if its too painful for him, she will end the blood donation activity for him.

"Not painful." hubby kept repeating.

After several attempts, she had no choice but to give up.
Then she gave hubby a cream and said: "The vein is slightly swollen and there is a high possibility that there will be bruise at that area. When the bruise appear, apply this cream. If there isn't any bruise, then don't need to apply. Never rub or massage the bruise, it will get worse."

I kept the cream in my bag.

Then she passed an ICE PACK to hubby to soothe the swell.

In the end, only half a packet of blood was collected.

The SADDEST PART of today's blood donation experience is this : They CANNOT USE HIS HALF-PACKET full of blood!

They had to discard it!!!!

When I heard that.
I went "WHAT??!!"

OMG!
Hubby went through all of that and in the end, the blood had to be thrown???!

I was even more upset now.

*sigh*
Even the drinks and snacks couldn't cheer me up.
Even the many yellow SMILING FACES on hubby's bandage could not put a smile on my face.......
*pout*

My first blood donation.......and it ended on a Very Sad Note.

*Speechless*

Progress of New House ~ Update 17 (FINALE)

A simple BEFORE and AFTER Photo-post to wrap up this series of blog posts on the renovation progress of my New House.

It is the LONGEST post among all the updates.
Not in terms of words, but in terms of the length you need to scroll down to reach the end of the post.

75 PHOTOS!!!
Take a DEEP BREATH....
 and Here We Go...................

LIVING ROOM

A LONGER living room now, after we shifted the storeroom into the kitchen.

BEFORE

AFTER

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 MASTER BEDROOM

BEFORE

AFTER

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Before the renovation, if I stand AT the Master Bedroom Door, facing the living room, I would be looking at the storeroom door; as it stood directly infront of me.

Now that we have moved our storeroom to the Kitchen, I will see my dining area instead with the storeroom on the right with the storeroom door at the left corner.

STOREROOM

BEFORE ~ Kitchen on the right and Living Room on the left

AFTER-1

AFTER-2

=============================

KIDS' BEDROOM

BEFORE

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==============================

STUDY / WORK ROOM

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KITCHEN

We prefer to have a longer living room to a bigger kitchen. 

Actually, after we shifted the storeroom to the kitchen, I still like the size of my kitchen.

I would still regard the size of my 'shortened' kitchen as big.

*smile*

Many who came to my house could not tell that the storeroom was actually using the kitchen space because :~

• we LEVELED the path/walkway which linked the living room to the kitchen.
• we positioned the storeroom door to face the living room area (see photos of my storeroom above)

Its fun to use a little visual effect to make what's not to become what is or the other way round. *Grin*

BEFORE

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The previous owner, a very friendly and nice old auntie, used to hang her clothes parallel to the kitchen windows, above the rubbish chute (scroll a few photos up and you can see her bamboo holder mounted on the ceiling.)

I used to have that Same Position for my bamboo holder in my old house and I disliked it, especially when I was drying long garments and bedsheets because :-

1. It blocked some sunlight and hence made my kitchen looked dimmer than it actually is.
2. When I need to close the windows, I will need to push the dangling garments away, which are hanging from the bamboos, to prevent my hair/face from being brushed.
3. Going in and out of the toilet also causes discomfort too as the dangling garments will comb the top of my hair.
4. Bringing the bamboos out to sun also requires me to turn the bamboo 45degrees, in order to get the bamboos out of the windows.

Enough is Enough.
Therefore, in my new house, I prevented all the above from happening by simply repositionimg the bamboo holders to the spot which you see in the last photo.

Now, even if I am hanging my bedsheets, I can comfortably walk into my kitchen without worrying if I need to push the dangling bedsheets away because there is still a good 1.5m of empty space from the entrance to the bamboo holder.
*Thumbs Up*

I love every part of my house.
But the part I love the most is actually my Master Bedroom toilet!
Probably the last place anyone would rank it on the top of their favourite list..........
 *laugh*

Aright,
that's it folks!
Its the Finale....
No encore please....'cos there isn't anymore to show!
 THE END.
*wink*