Friday, January 05, 2007
[[a letter from the past....]]
i found this email accidentally when i was mailing the previous post to Ma... Leong forwarded me this conversation between her and Ma some years ago...
> > From: Nancy_ANG@........> Date: Fri 02/07/2004 9:38 AM GMT+08:00> To: meow_leong@......> Subject: Re: letter> > > > Dear Joanna,> We are also affected by the blackout. The whole Sengkang was in darkness> except for those areas with stanby power. Initially, I thought Elwyn was> the culprit till i hear shoutings from outside. Our condominium lights was> restored quite fast although it was still dark outside. We didn't panic as> Uncle is always well prepared for such tjings. He has torchlights put at> strategic positions. Sometimes, we think he is too overly cautious but when> things does happen, we would realise it's good to be well prepared.> > I know Ben wants to do more but he is restricted by his tight schedule and> not so good planning. We are all hard pressed with time but we just have to> adjust and plan properly. I am also very busy both at home and at work.> Recently, even more at work because I have been away from the office.> First, it was my medical leave . I have never taken so many ML in my whole> career before. I've taken so many days plus the time off for my medical> check-up that last week I took my own vacation leave tor rest instead of> ML. I was also down with a very bad cough. I cough so much esp at nights> that I do not have a proper sleep for countless nights. Now I am almost 90%> recovered but after consulting the doctor 4 times. So I tried to sleep> earlier to make up for the lost sleep.> > I am also involved in the ISO certifcation and was sent for course. I am> also involved in another project which requires me to be away form the> office for many days. All these are taking away alot of my time in the> office to clear my works. But I try to draw a line between my work and> home. The other day, I sound so "sian" was because I was not having enough> sleep.> > Actually, quality time is much more impt than quantity time. I do not mind> Ben not spending much time with me so long as there is quality time. He> also wants to spend time with you and that I understand. He is unhappy that> he cannot comes home daily but again not everyone can do that as well. He> just got to accept the situation. Life is like that. How to have everything> to our desires? We have to learn to acept with more positive attitude and> we would be happier. Instead of being so negative and life would be> miserable. He always say that I do not understand him whenever i told hiim> that. In Rome u just have to do what Romans do. He thinks too much and> because of this, he can be undecisive. I really hope that he would be more> positive. Whenever, he is feeling down, I get worried.> > I do not mind doing extras if I can have peace of mind. The part bad about> being parents is our worry about our kids. It is easier to sacrifice than> having to worry about them. I know Ben is feeling that he has so little> time. I can't do anything about the army rules. What I can do for him is to> hep him in such a way he can have more time to do what he wants. For> example, I try to get what he needs to save him time. Like he needs the> watch. So I make enquiries and finally, bought for him 3 days ago.> Actually, to buy that watch for him , I have to walk almost 25 mins from> where my course was conducted to the shop. Furthermore, I have to convince> the shop owner to reserve the watch for me. The other week, he needs some> supplies from the army market. Actually he is luckier that he still has his> family to count on. Some guys have to get the supplies themselves whether> they are free or not. That Friday evening after work, I went with Elwyn and> uncle to get the supplies for him. Elwyn in fact volunteer to get them for> him. Anyway, this are the little things we can do. I really do not mind> doing such things. But i hope he can learn to accept things more> positively and accept that life is not always a bed of roses.> > I do not mind him going out but it must not be such that he is only taking> his home as a hotel. And I get worried if he comes back too late. Not being> able to spend too much time with us is alright esp since he has so> restricted time. It's quality time that matters not how much he can spend> with us. I have always encourage him to have better rapport with uncle and> Elwyn. No point being at home with the family if there is no rapport at> all. My wish for him is that he would be more flexible and adjust to> environment.> > It's good that he is able to confide in you.> > How is your cough now? If it is still not ok, do go consult a doctor. Cough> can be very stubborn and if not treated earlier will take a very long time> to recover. > This is a pretty long letter. It's not easy to compressed all your> thoughts.> > Take care,> Aunty> > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________> > "WARNING : "Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this> message. If you are not the intended addressee, you must not copy,> distribute or take any action in reliance thereon. Communication of any> information in this email to any unauthorised person in an offence under> the Official Secrets Act (Cap 213). Please notify the sender immediately if> you receive this in error."> > > > joanna leong > fic.net.sg> cc: > Subject: letter > 02/07/2004 00:56 > >> > > Dear Aunty,> heard that sengkang also have black out that day. u also affected right?> My blk and blks in front of mine also affected but those blks behind> mine not affected. At first i thought is my house only. Real panic that> day cos total darkness in the hse and everywhere.> I'm sick since last week. Actually i had sore throat ,after that got> fever. I recovered quite fast last week after taking the medicine. but> dont know y my sore throat came back again with cough. And is worse.> Since yester i've been taking cooling stuff but my sore throat still> same. This is the worse throat i ever have. no matter hw much water &> taking cooling stuff i still cant recover.> > Benedict said he dreamt of u. He dreamt that u wanted to go out with him> but he didnt. i think cos he's in gulit this few days and kept thinking> he neglect u till he had this dream. He said he didnt pay attention to> u while u are always doing so many things for him. Like that day u made> 1 tray of chicken wings for him but he didnt eat much. He feel gulity> for that too cos he wanted to eat more but he's just too full that day.> He knows u care so much for him. u know that he didnt have gd food in> the army that's y u specially prepare nice food for him but he didnt> appreciate by eating more. Also cos he is left with not much time over> the wkend he didnt get to have a nice talk with u that he always wanted> to .when he wanted to talk at hm either u're not at hm or he's going> out. he tried to call u when he's in camp hoping to have a nice talk> but that day the black out he didnt get a chance to talk . he wants to> care for u more but he doesn't knows hw to do it, the only way he can> think of is only talking to u or helping at hm. But he didnt seems to> have the time or smtimes the chance. He feel sad and gulity. he always> tell me that ppl always regret after losing their loved ones . he doesnt> want that to happen when the day comes but he dunno hw to cherish well.> Do u feel that he neglect u or not concern abt u?> > take care.> > > > > > my vision blurred
i was here @
5:15 AM.