Alright! This is the first time I'm doing an entry for contest. This got me really stuck cuz' the topic is - "Family".

If you realised, I've never spoken about my family in my past archives. Not because I've none, but just nothing interested to talk about. That's pretty sad. And so that is why organisations like Family Day Celebrations are for. To 'help' family like mine to BOND.

When I was a toddler, my dad was quite well-to-do. I guess after we had migrated from Malaysia, my dad struggled for a while and finally his career took off well towards the construction industry. I'd remembered at a point of time, he had even started out his own company called Rover Builders. I would often help out with his workers' salaries, sealed the envelopes or insert cash into them. Got scolded when I made wrong calculations!

I was more attached to my father when I was a kid. He would carry me on his shoulder and called me by my pet name - Xiao Gek kok. Haha this may sound awful, and till now I still don't know what it means. I suppose it is some Hakka pronounciation. Now to think back, we were really very close... What's stuck in my mind was that there were times I will massage him till he snoozed into lala land. He will do the same too, until both of us were asleep. If my close friends were reading this section, they must have thought... Are you serious? Cos' they knew how bad my relationship with my father was now. We rarely communicate and would often quarrel when we speak to each other. I don't know how to describe, but it is tremendously bad. I would rather not speak to him so that we could quarrel lesser.

When I just got together with Kenny and his family, it made me wonder several times why my family wasn't like his? He told me his situation was worse last time, and that God changed their lives totally.

It was until the economic down turn during 1997 when everything went berserk. My dad lost his company, addicted to a habit which I hated - Gambling, lost his job etc. My mum who used to be a housewife, had to step in the working society which she lost touch with to help support the family. I believe that is when my family situation changed drastically. Everyone had no time for each other and when I was at my growing stage, the surroundings affected me. This had partly contributed to my disconnection towards my family.

My mum had been through the worse and tho I love her, I don't show it the way other daughters did. I wouldn't hug or kiss her. We never had these "actions" and the fact is, I would feel awkward doing so. We never have done, and if I were to do one day, it's just weird.

Anyway, since my mum has quited her job recently, I intend to bring her out this 30th May - Family Day Out to Singapore Flyer. The entry passes will go to my mum, brother, Kenny, his mum, sis & dad and lastly myself. Looks like I've excluded my dad, needless to ask cos' he wouldn't go. He would love to witness how fast the horses dash across the field (if you get what I mean).

Sorry for the wordy post, I'm lazy to scan those old family photos! But just let me post up the most recent photo we took during my cousin's wedding (Jan).



Start planning for your own Family Day Out on 30 May 2009! Visit www.nfc.sg!

My life is like a stroll on the beach...
as near to the edge as I can go.