Extolling the virtues of family dinners

My vendor sent me this really neat article extolling the virtues of having family dinner. The article is very well-written and very tongue-in-cheek.

I'm a firm believer of family dinners. I used to have them very regularly with my parents until the teenage angst set those dinners to be mini battle grounds.:) But it was a great time and my very democratic family strongly believed that if you have a point in your argument, it is a fair fight. So we have shouting matches at the dinner table. Everyone, and I do mean, everyone, is equal. No hierarchy, no "I'm dad so you jolly-well listen to me". At the end of it, some conclusions were drawn and we (my sis and I) were left with making what my parents hoped would be a wiser decision. And we end the evening clearing the table together and doing the dishes and other chores. Dinners bonded us. To the untrained eye, my family probably appeared dysfunctional.

It was at these family dinners, that I learnt that my views were valued and heard. I learnt that I have to speak my mind if I want to be heard and understood. Maybe that's why I'm a quarrelsome person to some... I relish in a good argument. Of course, it would have been much easier had my parents dictated how I should behave and decisions I ought to make- I wouldn't have taken roads less traveled, end up with possibly lesser heart-aches and probably be a lot more sane in mind.

But because I was given a chance to air my views at those dinners, a chance to make my own decisions, I also learnt to live by the consequences. I can't turn around and blame someone else. And I grew wiser in the wrong decisions I made and became stronger as a result of many failures. And in a very masochistic, egoistical way, Im actually rather smug about how I had been-there, done-that... Some people can only now dream or wish they had done exactly what I did with their life.

Much happened at those dinners. Besides arguments, we also shared many jokes and funny anecdotes about our friends, updates on our life etc. So it really pains me when my friends, colleagues and some parents I know don't eat dinners with their family. It is not a simple affair of just eating together... it is the whole magic behind that act, which opens up the doorway for more understanding and conversation. And it is a ritual that must have it roots early in the family tradition.

We have 200

We managed to collect about 200 signatures and the letter was submitted in. The Developer gave a quick reply to say they are looking at the matter and checking the feasibility of putting up the grills.

It sounds like lip service to me... but I'll be fair and give them the time needed to sort this out. 1 month and if nothing moves, we would have to step up the pressure.

Along my rounds to get people to sign the letter, I encountered some really nice and sweet people and of course those who were already frustrated and was glad to see me at their door with a look of empathy and a listening ear. I don't really mind listening to their complaints, but it was really quite late (11 pm) and they really should have noticed my bulging tummy and not lament for more than 15 mins.

I guess if I should ever consider being a volunteer for PAP, this would be pretty good training for those "Meet the People" sessions.

Updates on recent break-ins

I last posted about my home being broken into. Here's an update.

I met up with some affected residents last Wednesday and we decided that we should call for a meeting with more residents staying at the affected blocks. We met today and decided that we should petition to the Developer.

It is probably no surprise that Singaporeans are an apathetic lot. While most are supportive and coorperative, no one wants to the take the lead. I guess everyone is just so busy and just waiting for someone else to do the job. Anyway, I somehow became the village head/indian chief of sorts. It is not something I desire since I'm already pressed for time for my work and feeling all the discomfort from the pregnancy. But seems like no one is stepping up to the plate and this is something I feel quite strongly. Maybe I'm just a quarrelsome person. :P

Anyway, it became my role to rally the support, write the letters and liaise with the people concerned.

I hope it won't be a futile attempt and I hope in the end, the Developer would do something without us taking too drastic measures. But I'm pretty prepared... if the situation is not salvage, we may have to escalate this to a media and legal tussle. sigh...

Someone has been here!!!

This evening started out quite uneventful until I got home and one of my neighbours from downstairs came by with a shocking news. Apparently, a burglar is on the loose in my condo and he broke into several houses today. He scaled through the kitchen windows via an open ledge at the lift landing. For my block alone, he covered all 16 apartments, mine included. He probably had a great shopping at other blocks too.

I was naturally appalled and the list of valuables that have been looted raced through my mind... My jewelry is left unlock since I am lazy to have to rummage for them, the IBook is left on the sofa, Lucas's 2 fat piggy banks with several pieces of fifty notes and coins is proudly displayed in his room etc etc.

After my conversation with my neighbour, I went mentally prepared to check out my lost goods... Lo and behold! Nothing went missing! Not my diamonds, or the thick wad of CNY $2-$10 dollars. The Ibook is left untouched and Lucas's piggies not slaughtered either. Extremely strange. I couldn't believe my luck and I went to check through the items again. I couldn't find anything missing.

I roped in Vinc to do a check. He has a keener eye for details. He found telltale footprints on the window ledge. 2 sets of different men's prints to be exact. He also discovered some the boxes which contained some unimportant misc items (like clothes hangers) moved, and very carefully replaced to be almost at the exact locations (except it is tilted). So someone has definitely been into our house and looked through our things.

I opened my lingerie drawers and found that they has also looked through my private collection and tried to arrange them back... EEEkkkk... Those perverts! I would have to soak my bras and undies with Dettol!

Vinc speculated that besides breaking in, they were also doing a recce to see which other units are worth a second visit. Hence, they didn't want to alert home owners. My dad (who is an ex-policeman) thinks it is likely an inside job and that if not caught, they will revisit. He suggested to 'trap' them by getting the neighbours to lock all windows and leave only a couple of 'trap windows' open and closely monitored.

What freaks me is that I could have been home alone with Lucas when something like that happen. I am not sure what I would have done in that scenario other than to protect Lucas from harm. I'm gonna see the management office tomorrow to get something done about those open ledge. And in the meantime, I'm going to lock my windows and also set booby traps for this trespasser... it is a long way down from where I stay.