Air Show 2010

Finally I have managed to upload some photos from the Air Show last Saturday - the one I got a sunburn from and for the rest of the week up to now, I still walk around with two tones on the arms.

Anyway here are some snippets from the Air Show, of the different variety of planes and the air display after that.

The entrance - with flags of various countries

Air Strip

Some examples of planes

Met some Trekkies and one happened to be our friend

Spocky!

With a Air Force captain

Power Ranger!

With two handsome American Air Force captains!

The Air Display

Helicopter somersaulting

It was an enjoyable and great display overall. I would not mind going back again if there is another one next year, but next time, I am going to overdose on sunblock and bring a canopy along with me!

Prosperous Tiger Year!

Happy New Year! I just came back from the usual rounds of family visiting as always on the first day. There will be relatives coming in the afternoon and then I will have another round of visiting in the evening. Hopefully this reunion will have lots of merry-making and joy!

As usual, people will ask the usual things like hoping I will be married off soon, hoping my parents will be "promoted" to another status, etc. All the usual niceties and exchanges, nothing new. Luckily my family and relatives are not too bad. I know some of my friends find going to reunions a drag as it seems as if it is a cardinal sin being single and dateless in front of their relatives.

Perhaps by next year some news will be brewing? No one knows right? Meanwhile, here's wishing everyone a prosperous and roaring Tiger year ahead!

Awaiting The Tiger Roar

So another reunion dinner had been completed. It is the same as any other reunion dinner except the number of dishes cut down from eight to six this year. And for the first time, my boyfriend is invited for our reunion dinner!

Now with the final hours of the year of the Ox, let us all welcome the roaring year of the Tiger. Wishing everyone a prosperous year ahead!

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Valentine's Day For Valentine's Day

Following the likes of Love Actually, Valentine's Day is another show featuring different vignettes centred on the theme of love. While Love Actually is on the lives and loves of some Londonites around the Chrismas season, Valentine's Day is on the lives and loves of some Los Angelites on that one day.

In a month, I cried while watching two shows. One was Hachiko, and the other one was Valentine's Day. The loves in the show is just so sweet, heartwarming and romantic - loving someone means accepting the whole of the person, good and bad, as well as someone you can spend the rest of your life with is actually someone who is your best friend whom you like a lot and actually grow to love.

It is another feel-good show that gives the audience a warm feeling all over. Not a typical romantic comedy yet it epitomizes love in its true essence.

Which is why I cried. But between Love Actually and Valentine's Day, somehow I still prefer Love Actually!

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Happy Valentine!

This year the first day of Lunar New Year happens to fall on Valentine's Day itself. Although I am excited by the coming of another year, I am also disappointed that due to this, I am not able to celebrate Valentine's Day with him.

Being a die-hard romantic, I always take Valentine's Day very seriously. So I was really looking forward to spending our first Valentine's Day, especially since this is also my first in quite a number of years.

But I will be so busy on the first day of the Lunar New Year that I will not have the time to meet him at all. So we kind of had a little celebration yesterday.

We took the afternoon off from work and met him where he surprised me with a stalk of red rose and a bouquet of red roses and Ferrero Rochers. Then we went to watch back-to-back movies.

It was a celebration of some sort. Even if we could not celebrate on the actual day, it is good enough.

Valentine's Day need not be full of fine candlelight dining, champagne and presents. It is the company and the little things that matter.

So to my darling : Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for being part of my life and may we have many more Valentine's Day together!

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The Bible In Variance

Last night I attended a very good session on the Scriptures. Looks like many people have the same burning question : Why are there so many versions of the Bible and which version is the best?

It was a very good discussion. The history of the Scriptures originated from the Hebrews. When Alexander the Great went on his world conquest, many people started using the Greek language. Books in Greek started appearing. These books later become the additional books to the original Hebrew version.

Hence a Greek version of the Bible was printed, with the additional books. This was known as the Alexandrine Bible.

During the 1500s when people began breaking away from Catholicism and started forming their own Christian denominations, they decided to use the original Hebrew version of the Bible - without the additional books. This continues today which is why the Bible used by Catholics and that used by Christians are different. Those who are familiar with the Catholic faith will know the moment they open the Bible whether it is the right version.

The Monsignor also touched on a recent religious controversy where a certain Christian pastor had to apologise to other religious leaders due to a comment he made in a public forum.

As far as I am concerned, Christians and Catholics are the same. Granted the way we pray may have differences but in essence, are we all not praying to the same God? Do we not sing similar worship songs, say the Apostles Creed, pray for forgiveness of sins and ask Him for help if needed? So why discriminate which method is better or which denomination is the best if we are all praying to the same Supreme Being?

As far as I am concerned, other religions have their own merits too. People are free to choose which religion they want to go into. What my belief is should not be an issue with others and vice versa. One cannot simply say this religion is the best hence everyone else that believes in another God or deity will be condemned.

The first thing any religion preaches is respect and tolerance, but I guess being humans, people just tend to take things far too literally at times.

That is also something else the Monsignor touched on - not to take the Bible too literally. For instance some still believe women have to be the ones staying home and taking care of the family while the men bring home the bacon. This is what is stated in the Bible.

So some women still give up their jobs and stay home while the men work for the family. But is it still practical in this day and age, especially with the high cost of living? It is also my dream to be able to stay home and take care of kids too, but if my husband does not bring in a certain amount, then it is near impossible.

In any case it was a very enriching session. This Monsignor is a very dynamic speaker indeed! I am definitely enjoying this course more and more!

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A Dubious Caller

I received a weird call yesterday. I was lunching with some colleagues when this guy called and said he is a headhunter and have a job opportunity for me.

Normally even when I am not looking for a job, I still entertain calls from headhunters as I may have friend who are looking to move. So whenever headhunters call me, I will always ask them to send me the job description.

But not this guy. On one hand, he claims to be a headhunter, on the other hand, he is not even able to tell me the job description, qualifications and remuneration, nor is he able to tell me what the company deals in.

Fishy right? When I asked if he could send me the job description via email, he said if everyone asked him to send email then he will be very busy so it is inconvenient to send me an email on that. If I want to know more, I have to go for the interview and talk to the managers then they can answer my queries.

Can you believe that?! He is headhunting me and when I asked for an email he gave me this kind of answer? Which recruitment agency or company that is genuinely looking for someone will not email the job description over first?

I insisted on the email and he then reluctantly said he will do it. But I have yet to receive any from him. What a scam!

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Taking On A Secretariat Role

Last night I went for a combined meeting of the CHOICE Main Committee and the CHOICE Asian Conference Sub-Committee. Since the Conference is just less than eight months away, more roles have been created in order to ensure the smooth running of the entire event.

Since last year when I agreed to be part of the Committee, I was under Accommodation and Registration. However since most lodgings could not give any quotations until at least a year before the event (and 101010 is a hot date), nothing much was done.

Last month I was asked if I would mind doing Secretariat. At the same time, the one who was in charge of Accommodation and Registration stepped down as he preferred a less active role. He asked if I could take over.

So I said I could take on both roles if possible as that time we were kind of short-handed. But now more people have volunteered, hence I am now in charge of Secretariat and someone else in charge of Accommodation and Registration, which suits me fine too.

But now I am starting to be stressed. For now I am the only one doing Secretariat. The Chairman said he would get a team for me as it is impossible to do everything on my own.

The role of the Secretariat is more prominent during the actual Comference itself, with some background work before that.

What is entailed in the job scope is the overall editor-in-chief of the Conference booklet, collating messages from the various countries, decide what to put in the booklet, collate and edit reports from the other countries, take minutes during the Conference itself, print and edit the minutes and compile all into a folder and give to the participants on the last day of the Conference.

It is quite a lot to do, but this is what I like to do, especially the writing and editing part. I would not have minded doing all on my own!

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The Mystery Of Relationships

As what a friend has told me and what I believe, the concept of a relationship is the giving and taking of two people. Afterall one cannot be in a relationship with oneself. It takes two hands to clap.

What I have learnt through the years is that there will tend to be an imbalance. One will always be of the stronger character and the other more passive. But this somehow works perfectly well because if both are strong, both will clash. If both are passive, no one will take charge and nothing will get done.

Hence one will always be the giving kind and the other taking. I have mentioned before that there should not be any calculation who gives more or who takes more as long as things work out.

However when is it too giving? I think a line has to be drawn somewhere. One should not give until one loses the ideals, principles and characters that make him him and make her her.

Take my parents for example. My mum's the neurotic, anxious, obsessive-compulsive and perfectionist kind. She is meticulous and so detailed down to everything that it is hard to keep up with her.

My dad is the oppsite. He is passive and laid-back, so laid-back that he can be downright lazy at times. Needless to say my mum is the one running the family.

But this works pretty well for my parents. If my dad is just as strong, we would have been a broken family long ago.

Similarly, if my mum is just as laid-back, then we would probably not have led the life we have been leading. So all these traits complement.

My dad is one of the few rare guys I have come across that has no qualms with a smarter, more capable and stronger wife. He lets his wife runs the show, makes the decisions, leads, and he just follows and goes along. In this respect, I really respect him. Most guys I know are too egotistical to be with a lady better than them.

Maybe because I was brought up in this kind of family, which somehow gave me a warped idea of what a guy should do. Through the years and a few heartaches later, I guess my expectations are now more realistic.

But I know myself. I take after my mum, hence I am just as strong-willed, stubborn, no-nonsense as she is. No matter how much I give in, at the end of the day I will always be unhappy if my happiness and needs are compromised.

Hence I need someone like my dad - passive, laid-back and let me run the show. Only by this will I be happy.

The someone came, not with loud gongs and fantasy music, but by silently creeping into my life and heart. Ironically I found him too soft for me in the beginning, but now I appreciate that.

By soft, I mean easy-going. He goes along with everything and gets along with everyone. He is not quarrelsome or insist he is always right. For someone born in the year of the Tiger, he is as gentle as a lamb.

Perhaps that is why we can get along so well. Precisely because my character is like this, that is why I need someone like that! That is not to say he is a pushover. He does tell people off and stand up for himself when need be.

Some people have complained I am too controlling because they think he is living my life. They think he is giving too much. They feel I should be the one giving and he should be the one taking.

But I have never asked nor imposed anything of him. He says he is happy doing what he is doing because he wants to. Anyway how would people know I am not doing my part? Do I have to deliberately show I am doing my part in front of them before they are satisfied?

Which makes me wonder, why is it when girls give in and submit to guys, and guys take for granted and do not treat her as she deserved, no one will utter a word? Is it because they think women are supposed to be subjected to the whims and fancies of men?

Yet when a man gives in to a woman simply because he wants to and just so she can be happy, everyone will label her as a bitch, that she is controlling, that she is making him a slave?

How come no one will ever take pity on the girl who gets mistreated by the guy, yet everyone labels the guy as a wimp and the girl as a bitch if the guy is the one giving in?

Relationship itself is a mystery. If this can be explained, life will be so much easier. To me I think most importantly is whatever that works. Afterall it is the couple who is happy, not anyone else for that matter.

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Sunburnt!

I have been a lobster the past couple of days. Blame it on the weather and the scorching sun that seems to bear down much more strongly than before! I do not think I have ever experienced such hot and humid weather, despite growing up in the tropics.

We were at the Air Show on Saturday. It was very hot, very humid and very sunny. Besides we were out in the open with no form of shelter. I had to keep getting cold drinks and ice cream as the weather was just unbearable.

It was so hot that when we went to the display area and touched the aircrafts on display, the metal almost burnt out fingers! Any hotter and I feared the aircrafts would be on fire!

When I reached home, I could not wait for an ice-cold drink and a cold shower! My skin was painful upon touching the water and I discovered sunburn on my cheeks, and two colour tones on my arms!

Abnormal weather we have nowadays to be so hot in February! If the sunburn does not fade, how am I going to wear my new sleeveless dress for the new year?

It is really getting more and more unbearable to live here!

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What Is It With Men And SLRs?

I always thought it would be great to be with someone who enjoys photography. I love taking travel photos, food as well as photos during outings.

In my family, I am like the unofficial photographer. My parents rely on my camera whenever we go travelling. None of my brothers have a camera; they always borrow mine whenever they need to take any photos.

None of the guys I have been with or went out with like photography. Even if they take photos, it would be just various highlights of the place and not go snap snapping away like I do.

So it is a good thing that my guy enjoys photography. But what I do not really like is the DSLR he carries around.

What is it with guys and DSLRs anyway? They are so expensive, bulky to carry around, troublesome in lens changing, and the quality of the pictures do not even look anymore different or sharper than my digicam!

Men spend thousands on one camera and a couple of lenses, yet blame women for spending a few hundred on clothes or books? Who is the one who spends more here?

A friend who got married a few months back actually banned her husband from lugging around his DSLR during their honeymoon as she did not want him to be so focused on taking photos, making sure all angles are right and changing lenses and totally ignoring her.

I used to think that was drastic but I am starting to understand now. Once a man has a DSLR and happily snapping away, all other things and people cease to exist! It is as if time stands still for him.

I am so tempted to enforce that rule too. He is not allowed to bring his DSLR anywhere. What is wrong with my camera? My new camera can take wide angle and zoom too! So instead of lugging such a bulky thing around, why can he not use a small compact one that can fit snugly in his pocket?

I went as far as forbidding him to use his DSLR ever again! But then upon consideration, just like he always puts up with my whims and fancies, it will be rather unreasonable if I take away the only form of indulgence he is really passionate about.

So I relented. No matter how much I dislike it, still I cannot deny him that pleasure. Afterall it is not like he has any other vices - he does not smoke (not now) nor drink excessively (just socially) nor gamble (no lottery or any form of numbers too) nor womanise nor spends excessively and unnecessary.

Compared to all these, photography is nothing. Just like I have my own indulgences, so do everyone. Hence I agreed he can continue using on condition he cannot lose track of the surroundings, and most importantly, cannot be so focused on taking photos that he cast me aside!

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Things I Wish Can Be Explained ...

Why are there some people with no looks, smarts, wealth and knowledge of the ways of the world and downright plump and short able to snag a good-looking, tall, smart, capable, street-smart, educated and rich partner, yet there are those smart, sassy, good-looking, rich and capable ones never able to find someone?

Why do some people splurge on expensive stuff and lead the high life never run out of money, yet there are those who scrimp and save but their debts are never-ending?

Why do some eat and eat anything any time they like yet never put on weight, but there are some who watch their diet and exercise all the time but still put on more weight?

Why do some who want children find it so hard to conceive yet there are others who have no plans for kids can have children after children?

Why are some who work their lives away still do not make enough for retirement yet there are those who just work ten years of their lives and can retire for the rest of their lives?

Why are some well-liked by everyone at first sight but some disliked by everyone at first sight?

Why, why, tell me why?

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An Embarrassing Situation ...

I had to take an emergency day off today. Not because of anything, but because when I boarded the bus and tried to sit down, my pants split at the seams!

That is the most embarrassing situation I have ever been in! I have to quickly call for a day off. In any case I have some leave balance from last year which I need to clear anyway, or else they will be forfeited.

I cannot believe this actually happened! I am already putting in so much effort to cut down on food like taking less servings and having just one full meal a day, as well as incorporate some form of exercise in my life, like walking more often, cycling around my estate, and yet I still do not go down? Maybe I have even gone bigger!

What else can I do save for starving and stop eating?

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The Bible In A Nutshell

Yesterday marked the start of the first day of the Catholicism class which I signed up for. The instructor is a prominent figure in the circle, literally the right hand man of the Archbishop.

The session was on Scriptures. The Monsignor gave us a handout summarizing the entire Bible in a nutshell.

Now I know the Old Testament, otherwise known as Hebrew Scriptures, is divided into four sections - Law, Historical, Prophets and Wisdom.

The New Testament is divided into three sections - Gospels and Acts, Letters and Wisdom of St Paul, and Other Writings (also known as Catholic Epistles).

There is something which I am always curious about : Why is the Bible used by Catholics different than that used by the other Christians? Which is the "true" or "full" version then?

There was no time for questions yesterday, so maybe I will ask that the next lesson if there is time.

I always thought bible studies is only for the really staunch and religious. I am not the kind who go to mass everyday. Or even days of obligations like Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday or All Saints Day.

Even when I am out with Catholic or Christian friends, we do not spout the Bible or start and end every sentence with God. They are actually more fun-loving people than "holy" people.

So I never thought I will be someone who can stand bible studies. If it is not because of the decision to teach Cathechism, I would never have thought I would register for a one-year class on religion.

But now I am glad I did. This course will not just benefit me, but the kids I am taking, as I will be more enriched to transfer my knowledge to them. Afterall, knowledge gained will never be gone!

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Rushing For Lessons ...

A tad belated this entry is as my lessons started last week. It will be a mad rush for the next three months.

What used to be twelve weeks of lecture-tutorial format is now replaced by six weeks of intensive seminars - one tutor will take a class and first half will be a lecture, second half will be tutorial activities. What used to be a two and a half hour lesson is now three hours.

In the past I used to be quite early for lessons, now I have a problem reaching class on time. Lessons used to start at half past seven in the evenings, in the main block, and I almost always reached around seven fifteen.

Now lessons start at seven, in the classroom block a distance away from the main campus.

I get off work at six. After waiting for the bus, changing bus, the crowd and traffic jam around that time, it was already seven when I reached, then had to walk another ten minutes to reach the classroom.

By the time I reached class, I was shagged, lessons had started and there was hardly any time to catch a breather, let alone get my mind in gear.

The topics covered are essays, analysis, structure, morphemes and syntax. I was supposed to do some prior reading before class, but at times I am just so tired that I went to class without any preparation. Luckily I am not totally unfamiliar with the subject matter so it is not too bad trying to follow the class.

There are two quizzes due in the next couple of weeks. I must admit I am a little behind in my lessons. I really must try to catch up and be well on top of the subject matter before the next class so as to be well prepared for the quizzes!

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The "Truth" About Local Living

As a further research into household income, I am assuming if someone wants to buy a place and a car together. In my previous post, I mentioned that imagine if the combined income of a couple is S$8,000.00 (maximum cap for public housing), and say the property costs S$600,000.00.

With S$8,000.00, there will be about S$1,840.00 per month in the Central Provident Fund. The downpayment will be S$60,000.00, remaining payment S$540,000.00.

If the couple is buying the flat for the first time and they bought a flat near where one of their parents are staying, they can get a grant of say S$20,000.00. Hence, the remaining payment is S$520,000.00.

Out of these, the couple can only get eighty percent of a housing loan, making it S$416,000.00. So the remaining S$104,000.00 still has to be paid via cash or Central Provident Fund (if enough).

Now for the monthly repayments. Imagine the tenure of the housing loan is thirty-five years (the maximum), and the annual interest is 2.5%. So for thirty-five years, the interest will be S$364,000.00.

Which means the monthly repayment will be (S$416,000.00 + S$364,000.00) / 35 / 12, making it S$1,857.14 per month. Assuming the couple does not utilise their Central Provident Fund because they rather save it as their retirement fund, this is the amount they have to repay each month.

Now, if the couple decides to buy a car. Assuming they buy a normal sedan at say S$70,000.00. If they are able to get a loan with an interest of three percent and a tenure of ten years, the total interest will be S$21,000.00. So the monthly repayment will be (S$70,000.00 + S$21,000.00) / 10 / 12, making it approximately $760.00.

If we round up the housing repayment plus the car repayment, it will be S$2,000.00 + S$800, making it S$2,800.00 per month. That is assuming the couple really has a combined income of S$8,000.00 per month to play with, otherwise things will be really tight after paying for the flat and the car.

So if both are working and the cost is split, assuming both are earning four thousand every month, each has to come up with S$1,400.00 per month. After deducting the amount put into the Central Provident Fund, the take home income per person will be S$3,080.00.

Hence, with the take home income minus the monthly repayments, each person will have just S$1,680.00 left for the month. If they wish to save up ten percent (make it five percent per person), they only have S$1,596.00 left for the month.

That is if all things are equal. This is still excluding household bills like electricity, telephone, parking (if any), marketing, food, water, allowance to parents, own expenditure, ad-hoc things. All things considered, they can well just have approximately S$1,000.00 left each month.

What about insurance? Assuming one pays S$300.00 per month for insurance (and that is quite low already actually), this makes it S$700.00 per person. It is able to get by with S$700.00 per person.

Assuming the monthly expenditure of someone is S$400.00 (that is if they really scrimp and save), they will still be able to have S$300.00 left. That is not including the inflation rate through the years. Imagine if the cost of living has become higher and the income still remains the same yet still have to service the same payments, things may just get tighter and tighter.

And that is just with the couple alone! What about if the children come? Whatever extra after all household bills will go to the children. How is anyone really going to save up, if one does not earn at least five thousand per person? Even with just four thousand per person, expenses are already going to be pretty tight.

They have to continue the payments for ten years, after which they still have to pay off the housing loan after the car loan. If they are lucky, they can sell the car after five years, then use the money to repay the car loan and perhaps have enough for a new car. Or they sell off the flat after five years, then make a profit from it, using the money to get a new flat and pay off the existing loan.

Because of this, despite many of my friends hoping to be homemakers, they have no choice but to continue working, as without a dual-income, it is really difficult to raise a family and maintain a household. Unless the girl happens to be lucky and the guy holds a high-flying job that earns him a five-figure sum, or he is the heir of some big family business, otherwise many households just have to make do with a dual-income, public housing and just one car.

These are just the basics. What if the couple wants to have three kids, and want all their kids to go to good schools, be educated in sports and music and be all-rounders? More money will then be forked out to send the kids to the various lessons. And they may want to travel once a year too. Without a decent income, all these are not that possible.

So if I do not get a raise in the next few years, either I have to fight for it, leave my job for something better (if possible), or else forgo owning my own property and car and continue staying with my parents!

Universal Medicine

I just watched a feature by Michael Moore on the ugliness of the healthcare system in America. There are many Americans with health insurance but because the insurance companies want to have their own share of profits, they normally scrutinize the policies and reject a client's claims when those people really need the cash to survive.

Not to mention the exorbitant sums pharmacists charge. And hospitals throw you out if you are not able to pay your bill. As a result, some went bankrupt trying to keep up with healthcare and there are some who actually passed away.

Americans have been fighting against universal healthcare. To them they are running a business. But that should not be the case, is it not?

If a life is at stake, is making profits and money more important? I always feel if one is in the healthcare industry, people's lives come first. No one's life should be compromised because they cannot afford to pay the bill.

Michael Moore compared the system in England, France, Canada and Cuba. England and France have universal healthcare. People can seek treatment and give birth in a hospital and walk out without paying. And with a doctor's letter, the patient can even take a few months off to recover with full pay - 35% by the employer, the rest by the government.

Their policy is if one gets sick, one gets sick. There should not be a limit to the number of days one can get sick. And one should not pay for sickness, hence the doctors and hospitals treat you for free.

Furthermore the doctors are pretty well paid. This doctor that was interviewed drives a fancy car and stays in a fancy place. He earns big bonuses. Who pays him? The government. The incentive for doctors to perform is the more patients who get well, the less number of repeated patients, the more bonus they get.

Sounds impressive! With England and France having universal healthcare and America shunning it all their lives, yet the latter has a higher infant mortality and overall death rate than the former two. Really food for thought here.

Michael Moore then went on to Canada. Apparently the healthcare is also free, or at least that is what was shown. Anyone with a Canadian citizenship or married to one can step into a clinic and out of it without paying.

Then the scene shifted to Cuba, where the hardcore prisoners like terrorists were kept in an American naval base. The healthcare facilities at the prison are even better than what some citizens have seen!

So the people who killed hundreds of innocents have better healthcare than the people who helped dig up the rubble during 911, and contracted serious respiratory problems as a result but they were not recognized and given welfare simply because they were not employed by any organisation but volunteered their services?!

Where is the logic to that? Is the government trying to bring across a message, that it is okay to bomb them as we will be well-treated but we should not volunteer in times of disaster as we do not even get the same kind of priviledges as those who tried to bomb us in the first place?!

So Michael Moore rounded up a few patients and set off to Cuba. Guess what? For a supposed third world country, even Cuba has a better and more compassionate healthcare system than America!

It does not matter even if you are considered an enemy, the doctors still treat you and the pharmacists still dish out medicine. The only difference is they really give you the right kind of treatment and medicine, and not just ask you to get so many different kinds of medicine just for profits.

That should be what the healthcare industry do! Treat a patient rightly so he / she can recover, instead of charging an exorbitant sum, giving the most expensive treatment which may not even benefit the patient!

Think I really want to move to England or France now!

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Of Public And Private Housing

I was doing some research on getting a place of my own in the future. If local conditions are more favourable, I could have gotten a place a long time ago. It just so happens many people here pay a lifetime for a roof over their heads.

Some lucky ones who end up in high-flying jobs after graduation are able to get a small place after a few years. Normally these people earn at least five figures a month before they are able to so.

By small place, I mean a cosy studio apartment of a private condominium. Afterall, a bachelor or bachelorette pad need not be too big or spacious.

However not everyone is so lucky. Most of us are normal employees holding normal jobs. We cannot afford to spend a million just to get private property.

So most live in public housing. But the criteria for public housing is that, one must be married or going to get married, or one is married with kids or with parents staying with you.

The combined household income must not exceed S$8,000.00 a month.

If single, you must be of thirty-five years of age and above, and even then, you can only get the smaller kind of flats, not five-room or executive.

The thing is public housing is normally under joint ownership. So if one is single below thirty-five, one can still get public housing if we buy together with a family member, like if I buy with my mum or my brother.

One person can only own one public flat at any one time. So if I have a flat under my name and my mum's, if I get married, either I change my mum's name to my partner's name, or sell off the flat and buy one together with my partner.

It is unlike private property where one can own a landed house and a condominium together at the same time.

Unfortunately the demand of public housing exceeds its supply many a times. Hence many people are not able to have their choice units. It is usually on a first come first serve basis and then through bidding and ballotting.

It is also subjected to a race quota. Somehow the regulations do not allow one single race staying in all the units of the whole block. There should be a mixture of races.

So if we are of a certain race and there are too many of the same race buying the units in the same block, we may not get it too. Which makes me wonder, what if it is a mixed couple? What race shall they go under?

It is not like private property where as long as you can afford, you will never be deprived of a house no matter what your race is.

Even though there is an income cap, the flats still do not come cheap. They all cost six figures, which is what some people earn in their lifetime.

So how can one afford a place? Through our Central Provident Fund. Even so, the first five or ten percent of the purchase price has to be paid in cash, and that alone is quite a hefty sum.

The rest is through housing loans. Even then, we can only borrow eighty percent of the purchase price. The rest is via cash.

Just imagine if a household income is eight thousand and the couple buys a flat for four hundred thousand. They pay the downpayment of five percent, ie twenty thousand.

The rest will be paid by the Provident Fund or housing loan which can charge an interest of 2.5%. And we must ensure monthly repayments. All these exclude the renovation, furniture, and whatnot. Some housing loans may have a tenure of thirty-five years, in which case one would have retired. Is it any wonder why people take their lifetimes to pay for a roof over their heads?

What about those people who exceed the income bracket? To be honest, if both are graduates, there is no reason why they will be earning less than four thousand a month. So if they exceed eight thousand but less than nine thousand, they are not eligible for public housing, so have to look for private housing.

But they may not have enough for private housing. What can they do then? Continue living with their parents? Even if they can afford the lower end private housing, it will be in a rather awkward location which is out of the way to everywhere.

Luckily nowadays there are more choices. Now there are higher-class public housing that looks like private condominiums, without the facilities. And the units are pretty big too, unlike the prison-cell like flats we see nowadays. Apparently these flats are pretty popular.

And I just realize there is going to be a development near where I am currently staying, so if I have the chance to get a unit there, I will still be staying near my parents, in a condominium-like flat, complete with a view of water and a park!

That would be my first choice. If only the development will stop being shelved and start its launch soon, then I may just have my own place within the next few years!

The next option is an executive condominium, which is a condominium masquerading as a government flat. It has all the facilities of a normal condominium development, like swimming pool, tennis court, barbecue pit, but at a cheaper rate than a condominium, and a bit more costly than a normal flat.

Unfortunately, I have yet to come across any new or upcoming developments near my area. There is one development about three estates down but that is already ten years old. Even then the units look like prison cells.

No way am I going to stay in such a small place! It will be too claustrophobic for me! I am used to having lots of space so I want my own place to be just as spacious and airy!

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