#SmartWifeIsSmart - 32nd Birthday Edition

Learning new skill for retirement. Doing painting at Chinatown

"Why did you draw a statue of liberty?" "For the death of freedom"

As promised, I am trying my best to blog a little more so I shall be shameless and wish myself a happy belated birthday.

I'm not big on birthday celebrations but I am a big fan of gifting. Be it Vday, Birthdays, Xmas or simply just random gifting. It is not so much about the physical items but gifting to me means how much you know that person and how much that person is actually on your mind.

Like I've this friend who buys me boxer shorts during her trip. Yup, you read it right. She buys me undies because erm.. we had this conversation about how boxer shorts vs boxers vs briefs and what's the difference and I had never tried boxer shorts. And since then she got me two from two different trips. And they are erm.. pretty comfy to be honest. And I think about her when I put them on. Ok, it's beginning to sounds a bit weird. Sorry Nic.

ANNNNYYYWAYYYY....

I didn't get a 32 tables birthday party with 300 friends of mine at a expensive hotel nor a expensive present but instead we spent some time together at a simple art jamming session and dinner at the dancing crab. Not bad lah, quite lucky to get at least a decent dinner when I thought all I'm getting is... to help with diapers changing. HAHA.

Sauces are so hipster I cannot. 

Even fries are hipster. Truffle fries.

Nope. The crab was pretty dead when it was served. No dancing or jumping.

I'm loving this apron look. Probably should add it to my fashion accessories list. 

Dancing crab was pretty good but it is wayyyy overpriced to me. It's not like some fancy dinner but it was pretty decent. I actually went online after that and did some snooping around and found that they actually have very good discount if you have an amex card. My wife has a very big problem in life which is not knowing what to eat. So I was telling her about how good this deal is and maybe she can sign up for the credit card as well... And...

#SmartWifeIsSmart

Happy Birthday to me.

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Happy 30th Birthday - 1st Anniversary

It is time of the year where I actually allow posting on my Facebook wall. (most of the time I disable it because people like to post funny things on my wall for some reasons) With advance technology like Facebook, we no longer forget people's birthday and I really appreciate it. It is not the motion of remembering my birthday but it is the motion that you took the time to write something that made me happy.

I didn't reply all the replies one by one because I really dunno what to say and I find saying thank you over and over a lil silly so I decided to write this post to thank everyone.

Thank you everyone for taking that time to post something on my wall, whatsapp or some even go the extra miles trying to catch up with me and sorry I am unable to meet everyone.

It is never easy to write a good birthday message to me, just like how you always attend weddings and stand at the entrance too long thinking what to write on the wedding guest card and still went back with 早生贵子...

So I would like to share a few that I thoughts was pretty funny! (Those that didn't get picked, please try again next year okay?)

Some of my friends took the chance to remind me i'm old. 

Some who knows how much I love to troll and things which doesn't makes much sense

And my favourite. Those that are blind

And of course, those that goes way back, those that brings back memories

old old friend but still kept up with me squating

yeah, my old skool online identity on IRC before becoming Smithankyou

Tagline I was given when I was at my 1st job

My intern

And of course those that went extra miles to buy me gifts, surprises and buying me gift that I requested. HAHA.

Surprise party after bball with wife, BBFF and new friend Jeremy Oh. 

Surprise gift from @Melpig

The best munckin ever.

Being 31 ain't exactly the hardest in many ways. By the age of 31 we have already opened a lot of hand cards. Although we always say that "it ain't over until it is over" so there's still a lot more to come but I would say it is much better than when we were 25 where everything was uncertain.

By this age I am blessed and lucky to say that I've already gotten quite a fair bit of things settled down. Not the biggest house but I got a roof over my head, not the biggest pay cheque but I have found a job and a career path that allows me to sleep soundly every night, not a victoria secret wife but this wife has got no secrets, might not be the most famous or popular guy in town but I know I have friends that I can count on when I need them and not the fastest car but my car comes with a loyal and beautiful driver so I guess I have nothing much to complain. I hope that using my birthday wish, everyone that I care for can find what they want in life and be happy as well. Not everyone is as blessed and as lucky as I am so I hope the best for everyone.

I guess the time we want to be young wild and free is over. So I was thinking about this and I thought I wanna share it here again.

But often enough, we still question our presence. What are we doing here on earth. What are we suppose to achieve. Who am I in an alternate universe?

Anyway, here's my current ear worm questioning about life.

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Happy Birthday Lee Kuan Yew - LKYTour Walking Tour Singapore

Every single time we watched the video of our Mr.Lee Kuan Yew crying on occasions such as NDP or his birthday, I just can't help it to stop and think about how would Singapore be without this man.

Image from TheRealSingapore

I am no fan of certain policies in the country these days, but yet I can't deny the fact that I give my respect and gratitude to this man especially for how Singapore is today. Some tell me that he is not the only man that made things happen because he had a team and not all credits should go to him which I can't deny but he is the face of it all isn't it?

We all heard negative stories about him as well but I guess there's no way a man don't attract haters especially at such status. Even I have haters. :p

Amazing it seems but it sure is no David Blaine's magic, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew turns 91 today and he was still seen at the NDP just a few months ago!

The Founding Father of Modern Singapore Tour - aka LKY Tour

In tribute to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, local tour agency MeGuideU has created a walking tour open to the public to be part of it! (More details at the end of article on "how to sign up")

It might sound like a publicity stunt to you (by my company) but the truth is the lady behind this tour sure ain't about that!

This is Miss Chia Bee Lian. I must say this woman is one of the most interesting as well as passionate woman I've ever met. When she 1st created this tour, she came down to the office days after days just to share with us the facts as well as her research. I can't say how much I respect her too!

The tour will bring us down memory lane of 91 years and more. We will also get to see and learn more about Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's father as well as family line. Fun facts that I never was delivered in a light hearted way by Miss Chia. I would have done so much better for my history lessons if she was my teacher!

Miss Chia in action with some of the bloggers during our media tour.

Even as a Singaporean, I must say that the tour was very informative. There's so much that I didn't know about Singapore as well as Mr.Lee. The newspaper cutting that Miss Chia was holding is not reprinted versions from the library but it's the actual prints, which means she has it as her collection all this while. She is some huge fan of Mr.Lee I must say.

Me doing my ah beng thing again not because I think it's cool but it's really tiring. It's a 3 hours walk so I suggest you better bring water, comfortable walking shoes as well as sunglasses. Thank me later for saving your life. :D

 Nope, she didn't bring us to Cathay for any shopping but why is Cathay part of the tour?

What about Queen Elizabeth Walk? Do you know the story about this place?

How To Sign Up

Interested in the tour as well? The good people at MeGuideU (Which includes me) is offering this tour as a tribute to Mr.Lee as well as a benefit to all Singaporean and visitors FREE! Simply sign up and account at the site and apply. It's going to be free from now till end of October. This walk is happening on every Monday 9am!

Quickly sign up here before it's all gone! 

Here's some other links about this tour:

• Blog Post by Priscias 
• Featured by ST Online
• Sauus.com

Mr.Smith, Happy Birthday Mr.Lee Kuan Yew!!

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My wife the gangster.

There are 3 facts about me that sounded more like a myth to most people.

1. My age.

I am 30 this year but I get carded at clubs all the time and people telling me I look 25. I guess the baby fats did help. I remember how my client was rude enough to tell my boss in front of me that "I am too fresh and young" for her project. meh, but definitely a compliment in time to come.

2. I am broke.

This is a funny one. Considering how much I eat, drink and buy. People think I am rich. They always like to find me to borrow money, investment, buy their things, invite me to wedding or even buy them dinner (actually I am very okay with that). The thing is I have a HDB, isn't that the biggest clue about my finical status? Debt. Look on the bright side, still a compliment.

3. I am married. 

I am not too sure if this is a compliment but I get this a lot. Not too sure if it is because I am too ugly to look married, looking too young to be married, too much a flirt to be married or simply act and look too single for my own good.

Truth is I am very married and my wife is a gangster. Most people are usually #TeamChris instead of #TeamSmith simply because I always seems like the bad boy and the one bullying her. For example how many female friends I have, flirting around with girls and always talking about sex. Truth is she is the silent killer not many people know. Everyone like to go "Wah Chris, I have no idea how you tahan your husband." Eh Eh Eh! Don't like. I am a very nice husband okay?

Very sweet looking right? It's actually a lie! 

Fine. Even for those who knows, they are still on her side. Just look at these status on Facebook and how many people actually liked these conversations. I realised all my friends like it a lot when my wife owns me. like what? who's your friend here hello?

She sets trap for me.

She doesn't let me spend money. Which is actually not too bad at times when you meet impulsive buys.

She can be very lame when it comes to just the both of us.

She sets trap for me once again. 

She can be very competitive too. 

So now you know under this sweet looking face she is actually quite a witch right?

old picture from 2009 thus old watermark. 

Whatever the case, thank you for being there for me (most of the time), allowing me to be who I am (besides restricting the amount of tattoo I have), being supportive of the things I do (but did not vote for me during SBA, doesn't really read my blog nor like my instagram pictures), always cooking for me (despite the fact that you can't really cook and it's not always edible but I still appreciate it.) and always trying new things with me. (when you feel like it and only those things you approve because they do not throw your face or not too dangerous which makes it left with not exactly a lot of things.)

EH EH... JUST FOR LAUGH LAH! 

Happy belated Birthday Post to my Smartie Pants Wife!! 

Mr.Smith, Eh wah Eh wah Eh wah~

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NDP 2014 - Happy 49th Birthday Singapore

I am proud to say that I was at the last National Day that happened at the floating platform yesterday.

In fact this is my first actual day visit to the NDP.

I was part of the last NDP at Kallang Stadium in 2006.

Don't judge that was during army.  Photo quality also chui.

2006 NDP was a very special NDP for me. I was in the army and I was part of the marching contingent but I was the substitute guy. You know how army boys like to "chu pattern"(slack) especially on a weekend. So because of that I was actually at the rehearsal more often than some of them. 30 men and each rotate to take MC every week. You do the math.

So I was part of the marching guys during the rehearsal, I was watching it LIVE! at the stadium on 2nd August - the final rehearsal because they gave me the tickets and I was watching it from home on the 9th of August itself. I was every where for that NDP!

Watching the NDP might be entertainment to some but to someone like me it is actually like a memory. It touches my heart every time. I am not too sure if I am exactly patriotic or simply just nostalgia but the parade never fails to make me feel all emotional.

The red lions and the giant flag fly pass is always one of those segments I really really like.

To be honest, I am not exactly a fan of the performance after the marching parade but this year's performance was very good. The whole based on real people story telling got my heart. It's really very touching. And of course the presence of Mr. LKY.

I wouldn't say I am the biggest fan of what's happening in Singapore these days (political scene and money paying scene wise) but we still can't deny the fact of what he did for us to bring us to where we are today. He has given his whole life to Singapore. Be it like rumour has it that he do things for himself but it is undeniable that Singapore is now a better place than where we were 49 years ago. Sad to say but we can't say the same for our neighbour(s).

My small moment of "fame". 174 RTs and 56 Favorites. Thank you Singapore. 

And this,

Still not very good with the camera. This is like the most presentable one already. 

I love fireworks. It's not something we get to see everyday and I really hate people who goes on twitter ranting about how the government is wasting his taxes. Comon, the taxes you pay is not even enough for this to go on for a second. Stop being sour and enjoy this moment. The celebration of a country as one. I seriously do not get why some people are so negative about everything.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Singapore!

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