Fireworks

Fireworks never fail to excite me! The neon colours, sparks and noise all add to the festivity. It is almost impossible to feel down when one is busy admiring fireworks display.

I had the opportunity to attend the Singapore Fireworks Celebration 2008 on Saturday. Got free tickets from the purchase of my LG microwave.

It was raining cats and dogs on Sat PM though, but lucky it reduced to a drizzle in the late evening. So aunty me - armed with my brolly and shades (yes, I needed both items to protect my new-found perfect vision) - was able to view the spectacular display of fireworks at Marina Bay. The rain became heavier just as the fireworks display started, but never mind the rain - the show was awesome. As I sat there staring at the display of lights against the dark-pitched sky, I thought to myself how fireworks were like many many shooting stars at one go. Its gorgeous and reminds me of the first time I saw my first spectacular shooting star in Australia.

Fireworks are a sure way to grab anyone's attention - young and old, who wouldn't like them? A great way to celebrate, it never fails to excite, and at least for me, I know I'll never tire of this great invention.

Here are some photos of the fireworks, but they definitely don't do justice to the actual display. Always better to see them firsthand.

Some other photos taken after the display.

Pre and Post Lasik

It was a gruelling 4 weeks having to stay away from contact lens. Having to don spectacles from the age of 9 led to the self-realisation of the vanity trait that was inherent in me (well, most ladies are vain and few would stamp their feet in protest of this fact).

For a start, I would usually avoid wearing glasses unless necessary. Hence my spectacles were found more often hanging off the middle of my pinafore instead of my face..and it didn't help that I had a flat nose so I was constantly irritated by my glasses slipping off my face. Life was such until I was introduced to contact lenses - freedom from glasses! Still, I consciously alternated between glasses and contact lenses because my eyes would get irritable if I were to wear contact lens for consecutive days. It was always my wish to undergo Lasik, but I always hesitated, having heard of the risks, as well as having concerns with my unstable degree.

But finally, having heard all the positive comments from my friends who had gone for Lasik, I decided to take it up. So that was the start of my 4 weeks off contact lens. In some way, it was also a path of self-discovery. During these 4 weeks, I realised that I could not bear to put on any make-up or wear skirts..not with my spectacles. Somehow, inherently I felt that glasses made me look ugly. I inspected myself closely in front of the mirror..I know I'm no beauty, but certainly I don't qualify as ugly with my glasses rite? But nonetheless, that was how I felt, so for the entire 4 weeks, I was always dressed very simply. But the advantage was that it halved my time spent in dressing up - minus the time taken to rinse and wear my contact lens, putting on make-up - I certainly became more efficient, and in a way, less vain.

The day of transformation came on Thursday - 21 August 2008. I finally had my Lasik operation. I was feeling a little apprehensive and nervous. This is not the first operation in my life, but nonetheless fears were unavoidable because the gift of sight is so significant to me. My right eye had also been itching on and off for the past 2 weeks, which was why I decided to postpone the operation by a week. But the surgeon allayed my concerns and said that the itch shouldn't pose any problem.

The surgery was not as scary as I thought it would be. I just made sure I kept my head stationary and my eye fixed on the blinking red light. Otherwise, it was just a bit of eye pressure (presumably to cut my cornea?) and then the laser zapping away to trim my cornea to give me 6-6 vision. It was painless and fast, and my doctor was most encouraging.

The first night my eyes felt a bit of glare and there was slight pressure in my right eye. The next time, my eyes felt much better. But I still feel that my eyes are tired. And I am still trying not to overstrain my eyes...resting and closing my eyes as often as I remember. My fears of the risks of Lasik had made me realise how important and how precious the gift of sight is. And I would say it is the most important amongst all our senses, including ladies' 6th sense.

I thank God that my Lasik was successful, and I now have perfect eyesight. I just hope to be able to take care of my new eyes so that my vision will always remain this way (Btw, I'm drinking a cup of wolfberry tea now). And today for the first time in 4 weeks, I wore a skirt out =)

The convenience of life without glasses. For an instance, I still subconsciously tell myself that I need to go and remove my contact lens later. But the next moment, I remind myself that I now have perfect eyesight! I'm glad I made the decision, and certainly, I echo the same comments from all my friends - No Regrets!

Happy 43rd Birthday Singapore!

This year's National Day Song is great..the tune and the meaningful lyrics got me hooked the 1st time I saw the MTV on TV. Now I stay glued to the TV whenever the MTV comes on.

Thanks to the great invention of Internet and Youtube, I can rewatch the MTV over and over with just a few clicks on my laptop. If this was 10 years ago, I'll probably be holding a tape recorder to the TV and recording the song onto a casette tape. So many thanks to advancements in technology I have already ceased this primitive practice.

Shine For Singapore - Hady Mirza


There's also a Chinese version by Cai Chun Jia, although I much prefer the English version by Hady.

Qing Kong Wan Li - Joi Chua


Listening to National Day Songs brings me back to primary and secondary days where I'll be crooning National Day Songs almost every other day in school. In those days, my top favs were "Heritage" and "It's the Little Things". For the past few years, National Day Songs have become more contemporary and are no different from K-songs..I'm hoping the MTV of this year's National Day Song will be available at KTV so that I can belt to my heart's content. I'm already starting to do so at home..opps.

As National Day approaches and I am reminded how a little fishing village 43 years ago survived against all odds to become a busy financial hub today, I feel a sense of national pride. I hereby unashamedly proclaim that I am proud to be a Singaporean, and I thank God for Singapore. My life would be totally different if I was born in a different country. I love the green in Singapore, the excellent spread of local delicacies, the strict laws against littering, great security which gives me peace of mind, our capable and uncorrupted government, freedom of religion, and our belief in racial harmony and equality.

As a tribute to the country I love, I've posted the videos of some other National Day Songs which like:

There's No Place I'd Rather Be - Kit Chan


We Will Get There - Stephanie Sun


Where I Belong - Tanya Chua


Home - Kit Chan


And here's a song written and sung by my pastor..although this is not exactly my type of song, i think it is apt to post it because the video includes footages from World World II and serves as a good reminder of how far Singapore has progressed, and to be grateful for the peace and security we are enjoying everyday!