500 HK shares of Alibaba

Today I went out 11am plus because I was afraid of the cockroaches that would come out after fogging. Took bus 33 to bras brasah complex and was very early. Decided to go bugis Uniqlo to see if I could find the fleece sweater and I did, and it was 29.90 (10 bucks cheaper).Very happy because recently bought a very coarse jacket on zalora which I intend to give away liao.

Hopefully I do not feel so cold at office with the sweater. If it can keep me warm, will bring back my bomber jacket.

Today was very very hot, I kept sweating...finally home after pizzahut dinner with G and mum. She bought a cheapo sanrio cinnonroll but she got what she wanted. 

I still have 2 on the run unboxings that I have not opened :)

Got distracted, while waiting for my erhu lesson, I was contemplating buying more sg stocks but the ones I am eyeing still have not bottomed a lot, so decided to use my moomoo to buy around 68k worth which is 500 Alibaba shares at 123.90.

Last swimming lesson

I picked up swimming in Aug 2025. This was after a long time think from my pioneer and leaders publisher days.

I remembered back in 2008, I joined the company and within a very short while especially after I came back from my taiwan trip, I put on so much that I decided to learn swimming to lose weight.

Why I decided to pick up swimming after 19 years, well, I kept having the fear of drowning. Even last night, I dreamt I fell into a very deep pool and was drowning.

Now I can swim freestyle and breaststroke. Last time, was only able to swim breaststroke.

My coach may be going overseas, so maybe at most once amonth. I will need to go swim at heartbeat.

When did I stop grinding?

Two years after YS passed away and after settling his medical bill and selling off the car.

I remembered tendering 2 months before Jul 2024, and by July, I settled his medical bill.

In a month or more, I will settle my mortgage. 

Now need to monitor my insurance premium in May then keep the expensive rider until my kidney problem is more clear. This will be in Aug.

Come this Aug, I will be back to my old job for a year. 离不开它

Very free at work, will use the opportunity to learn jap :)

Mandai qingming

Today, we did our qingming pray at mandai for YS. This is the 4th year and did some chatting with ys daughters.

They seemed happy.

Usually after the session, I would feel tired but I cant sleep. 

Tried to sleep but only managed a short while so just get myself up to sit and write my blog. 

I have enough

Cannot sleep... so woke up to do some wuliao stuff at 3am.

Was wondering for myself, whar had kept me moving? To sum up, is the idea that one day, I could tell him what I have experienced these past years.

Can I solo travel before my time? This is something weighing on my mind.

Is there something I can do at night when I have alot of time?

Din feel like playing ps5 at night, ended up having lotsa of time. Cant sleep as much as I like.

I am grateful, I have everything I need. 

Bought a leather mj tote

Just spent 480 for a medium marc jacob tote bag. I just bought one canvas one for 208, and now I just spent 480 for a leather tote....i need to stop.

Lost 10kg

I remembered I was 70kg back in Jan 2024. Reason was I just came back from ipoh trip with friends and weighed myself.

Got a very rude shock. Always thought I am ok weight. I was at my heaviest.

When I think back, I was doing the same things as I was, even training for marathons. But the weight did not come off. 

It started gradually coming down especially after I tendered my resignation. The stress from my work wore off and the weight just came down. Plus I was working in part time jobs that need me to stand.

2 years on, my current weight is 60kg. Maintain this weight and monitor if lose weight suddenly. Not a good sign

Build more muscles. Remember this. 

Donations

Ever since he passed on, I made several donations in his name. Did a simple calculations, in past 4 years, I have made about 11k donations.

I wish to 散财 while I can. Did not want my surviving siblings to bear this burden, I shall donate as and when I wish.

Don't forget that there are always people in worse situations, be grateful and do good while u can.

My path to FI

Am I fire? Financial independence retire early?

I would say I am. Why?

Early on, I did some calculations that my FI number would be 500k in investment.

I hit this number only after ys death. But as mentioned earlier, this joy of hitting my FI was lost when he passed on. No point to FI if nobody to spend time with.

I adamantly quit in 2024 July, because I hate my job. I need to manage 2 staff and a few major projects. Ever since my hubby's death in 2022 Aug, I decided to quit my cushy and highly paid job, I endured for another 2 years because I had to pay for the car and his medical expenses 33k. 

As I reflect now, I never regret this decision because I was on the point of mental and physical breakdown. I took a break and then as I was truly bored, started part time jobs in Dec 2024.

The partime jobs were not easy, I gained a newfound respect for anyone doing such jobs.

Now I have quit my partime job and went back to my old company as a temp staff earning a comfy 2kish. I went back because I wanted a job that can keep me active mentally.

How many friends can I ask if I need to borrow money?

I asked myself this question, if I am ever in need of money, who can I ask?

Only 2 names come up, and one did not because she does not have money even if I asked. 

Although the real test of a friendship is usually during trying times, I hope I wont ever need to. The other 2 would be my sisters.

I dont believe in having many friends especially since most are superficial. Though I cannot say I forge deep bonds with my friends, I think they are not the 见死不救。Vice versa, I would lend them even if they cannot pay back.

1 March lazy sunday

Later am going 313 to meet with ASM colleagues for a dinner.

Had bathed lily and swept mopped floor. Practised erhu abit.

Now not sure where to go. Later go google 313 do what

Insurance

There are many times I wish to terminate my medishield rider which costs me 250 a month. It would only go up further. Have to see what is the revision come May.

There are a few health concern:

1) am i having kidney prob? Do i need kidney dialysis?

2) breast lumps - cancer

3) recent piles problem - bowel cancer?

4) menses heavy - anemia

Will I be able to afford the treatment if i downgrade? Or should I continue to dong till 2028 where we will be forced to downgrade.

The reason I bought the most comprehensive rider was so that I need not worry about the costs should something unfortunate happen. Hmm should just continue to grit thru and see how it goes for the next 2 years.

Temple day

After my blood and urine test at Bedok polyclinic, I went with mum and G to bedok 法主公和太阳公庙。

So happened there was a celebration at 法主公庙， lion dance and dragon dance. 

Later we went to eat lunch and dinner at Botak Jones, cannot use cdc vouchers. I treated them lunch and drinks. Always like the coffeeshop as it is very airy. A good way to just la kopi on a hot day.

FIRED or not FIRED?

 Am I FIRED? Definition of FIRE is commonly known as Financial Independence Retire Early. In my mind, I think I am. I retired early or quit my job end July 2024. Back then, I had enough investment dividends to provide a monthly income of 2k. 

This was enough to pay for all my key essentials excluding adhoc medical expenses, travel expenses and donations, so essentially I am lean FIRE. Anything adhoc would have to come out from my savings and there were, dental expenditures, travel expenses and donations.

So I did part time work to earn ~800 per month or so to cover for these adhoc expenditure. So if I used my expenditure for 2025 as a real gauge, I am spending average 3k a month so my investment dividends of 2k is definitely not enough to cover it. More accurately, I am Barista FIRED where I need part time income to cover the shortfall of 1k.

I found a partime job that pays me on average 2k a month, so I could still save 1k a month and use it to build my investment dividends to 3k a month.

Although I cannot help but think that I will not live so long, with almost 1mil of liquid investments, why am I still striving to up my dividend income. What is the point anyway? I cannot possibly consume all 1mil in my lifetime and it is pointless in a way to keep accumulate.

I read the book, Die with Zero. I am still spending, am not curbing it in any way - spending on bags, clothes, popmart, music lessons but maybe it is time to change my mindset to decumulate - I donated more last year and spend more. Thinking of going solo trip to Hong Kong - something weighing on my mind but I realise the peace I seek, that peaceful feeling, I recently had an epiphany moment while waiting to go to my office. I was looking outside  Novena shopping mall, and that dawn, it triggered me to remember a time where the morning was very peaceful.

Hard to put into words, that nearing dawn light - is it what I had been seeking. I asked myself why do I need to travel to enjoy peace? I couldn't because I couldn't sit still without worrying about going to the toilet.

E.g. if I want to go climb a hill, or a garden or wherever, I worry about the toilet. 

Maybe I should take some time to go wander around Singapore - I pinpointed 2 spots - Paya Lebar MRT walking to Aljunied hawker centre, I reminisced about the times LG and I having pig stomach soup and rice, and the wanton mee. It was our first dating spot. We like to go there because it is quiet and yet not too quiet. There are things to eat, maybe occasionally shop. Ever since LG passed on, I had never been there. Maybe it would be hard, but I need to move on and probably going to such places could help me move on.

I largely have moved on, but I did not also want to forget the times we had. So here I am jotting such memories down in case one day, I shall forget them.

The second spot is the Kallang river. 

Hmm, how should I build my routine also to include swimming? 

Marc jacob tote

Will I finally have bag peace?

I got the bag I wanted since 2 years ago. The price is 208, cheaper than the 280 price of the tote bag I got fr Japan.

The new tote bag is abit smaller, and the fabric is not as thick, so it is not as heavy. 

I hope even after my bag fades, I will still use it and not give away.

There are a few bags I will not give away, my braun buffel, my cat backpack, my taiwan LV bag, my newest elle sporty bag and now my newest mj tote bag. 

Bag peace

Erhu one-to-one

I actually had harboured the thought to sign up with my erhu teacher on one to one basis. Maybe after hearing about G needing to go for a surgery, it is time to yolo for real.

4 lessons 260 a month. Why not? Went back to tabulate my monthly expenses, would be 2400 which is not excessive. 

Just do it and go with no regrets!

Didn't I want to allow myself to spend 30,000, this should be my chance. I can go for classes for 15 years haha.

Bought a blue marc jacob tote

I just bought a marc jacob tote bag (blue shadow) for 208 bucks.

This was after I gave away my grey blue marc jacob tote bag which I bought in Mar 2024 from Japan.

I always wanted the blue color one but when I was in Japan, the salesperson brought me the grey blue one which I did not realised until we were back in the hotel. Back then the medium size (length 34cm) was 280sgd.

Today while browsing zalora, it was priced 218, and further discount the final price was 208 with free shipping. It was too good a deal to let go. I hope I dont regret and throw this bag away.

This would be my own birthday pressie. I remembered last year bought braun buffel and caro rino, the year before was my xiaomi pad.

Well since I made some profits in investment, I shall reward myself abit.

Reread my blog

Spent hours re reading my blog entries to review my cny days. Blogging has helped to relieve me of some anxiety and I wish to preserve my memories in case it failed.

LG, happy cny and may we meet again! 

Lazy sunday

Sundays are usually just bathing Lily, wash her mattress and mopping floor. After that, nothing to do except youtube. Tend to be very aimless and will splurge and buy bags on impulse.

Have many bags already but I still feel like buying.

I am thinking of starting a youtube channel on FI but I am hesistant. There are already many good SG youtubers on FI and myself, I have a very myopic view.

I have only invested in stocks and once in fixed deposits. I dont have alot of content compared to others, and I doubt I can make alot of videos. 

Mainly because I have nothing to do. I tried to learn japanese but gave up, third time already. Cannot do programming. 

Since yesterday, have started to read out loud my late father's book on Taoism. Manage to read a few pages. Hope I can persist.

Vicom

I reinvested the monies from the sale of citydevt to vicom. After I bought 55k shares, it announced a good quarterly results resulting in higher share price, and a higher dividend payout.

Decided to invest in Vicom because it is a stable industry with a decent dividends payout.

Currently a lot of share prices are still high, so even though Singtel had reached 5 dollars, I decided to keep the shares until I could find a replacement share to reinvest in.

CNY 2026

Documenting how I spent my cny:

- chuxi - worked half day, went gym, ate dinner at mum place

- chuyi - went to eat lunch and dinner at mum place. Videoed DBZ labubu video with Geoky

- chuer - went eat steamboat at mum place. Used my steamboat pot, ate alot of meat slices

- chusan - planning to go Funan popmart with G

- chusi - go xia  dan gong and qing long ye temple

Spring cleaning 2026

This year, I cleaned 

- windows

- stove

- kitchen cabinet (threw unused stuff plus clean)

- kitchen wall

- replaced my bedroom cabinet with new

- used bedroom cabinet as she shelf

- tv console

- living room and kitchen lamps

Hmm have been trying to minimize the furniture in my house. 

I don't think I could downsize my wardrobe, maybe I will start fr my wardrobe. Will be after cny liao.

5383

After LG passed on, I remembered I missed him so I told myself, if I see this car plate number, it means he is with me.

When travelling overseas, I saw this number on a few occasions

- japan trip at the airport

- hongkong trip at an alley way

- recent KL trip near petaling jaya

occassionally I see this number around my neighbourhood, I take it as a sign of his presence.

大扫除

Today I need to whoop my ass and clean the kitchen cabinets. Something I have been putting off and to help me, I brought a clean mop from a random guy under a pasar malam tent at Bedok central. Cost me 15 bucks.

Resting now aa just taken lunch. Will start soon.

Feeling lost

Yesterday was feeling fatigued from afternoon onwards. Morning, I was still finishing my where wind meet game. Went to 95 to pass family some gifts and food from KL

Skipped erhu and slept at 10pm.

Felt very lost the whole day, I could not find the energy to do anything. 

Maybe because there is nothing to look forward to. Nothing to dream about.

If Lily passed on, I am not sure how I will continue on. Same as ever?

Practise gratefulness that you still have a relatively healthy body and roof over head.

KL trip (4D3N 30 Jan to 2 Feb)

Jotting down my KL itinerary:

Day 1 (flew SIA)

Took espress train to sentral, deposited luggage at Aloft hote

Grabbed to Lalaport buy Mayday blindbox ball

Grabbed to Pavilion, took some pictures of popmart, got 1 chaka cny blindbox

Lunch at Roast duck village restaurant the crispy duck was very nice

Checked in hotel

Tinbox ate some finger food and live music

Day 2

Dim sum at concorde

Petaling jaya - soya bean plus chee cheong dun

Neaeby hotel - fried niangao and super nice claypot rice

Mayday concert

Haidilao supper

Day 3

Village park nasi lemak superb!

Shopping at nearby mall

Shop abit more at one utama

Bak Kut Teh dinner the soup more nicer

Dessert - enjoyed the sesame peanut paste

Day 4

Yong tau foo and wanton mee

Eggtart 

Walked day market

Return to hotel, checked out, shopped at NU mall beside Aloff

Go airport via espress train

Friends after secondary school

I have 2 sec school friends, and i guess one more I made at work.

After I left, only J kept in touch with me because we were exercise buddies. I wonder if I did not maintain the gym membership, will we still be friends?

Gg on my 2nd trip overseas with J. Enjoy everyday, U dunno if it is your last.

没有欲望，平常心对待。老公，我会带着您去Kl的。

Xiaobai dream

Dreamt xiaobai was alive, she looks more like a Pomeranian than a jap Spitz. We were playing around then suddenly she seemed to become very weak and she died again. I cried when she died but then I suddenly recalled she was already dead sland woke up sitting up.

Told my sis and mum, they felt I must be feeling very guilty about not taking care of her well. I look at other people dog and they look so happy, but I look at xiaobai and lily, they looked bad. Why?!!! Initially I was very tempted to get another pet, but I feelni cannot even take care of myself, so I do not want to cause more suffering to any pets.

My health is not good, am having issue with my butthole. Haiz maybe I won't have much time left so just enjoy ba.

FIRE income

My FIRE income is 2k, not able to fully cover my expenses which is 3k a month. Tracked my expenses since Jul 2024, so I can safely say my expenses is this range taking into consideration donations, travels, dental etc.

I still took the plunge and quit. Now back to my stat board as a temp staff, I earn around 2k a month so still can save 1k per month.

My temp stint will end in Aug 2026, after that I will join Uniqlo.

My security job dried up, quit my airport job, quit my museum job.... So no other part time jobs liao. Maybe is also ok, since I am working 3 days a week which is just nice.

Monday will double check with my supervisor if Aug will end so I can find a job nearing Aug.

YS

It has been a long time since I dreamt of him. I remembered we went to a seminar like place and I was singled out by a lady whom said I got 0 income. Then I said though my income is low, my assets are alot. 

Although I cant rem what he said to me, he was beside me. 

I guess he could be telling me to be careful of my monies. I am always careful. Have activated money lock.

Butthole

My butthole had been feeling weird, there is pressure at my butthole when sitting down.

Today finally decided to go let a female doc dig it, cos I touched and there was nothing. I looked and cant see anything.

If it does not improve, will have to be referred to a colon specialist.

Sold keppel and bought Mapletree Industrial Trust

Eating my words abit. I am quite against reits but today I bought 45k MIT at 2.10.

This cam after selling my remaining 12k Keppel for 10.73. 

I wanted anstock that can give me decent dividends. I looked at comfortdelgro but it's core biz is challenged. Parkway reit is 4+ but dividend is only 10 cents. 

So in the end, settled for MIT because if the interest rate falls, REITs will benefit. But am afraid it will issue rights when I am cash strapped. Hope it does not.

Grateful for

I have done the following:

- a fully paid up flat

- ever had cars

- 养过狗狗

- ran 3 marathons

- can FIRE

- travelled to some countries

- 2 cruises

- ever had a career (promoted.twice)

- learnt to swim

- erhu, guzheng, guqin

some bucket list

- solo travel

Dreamt about LG

Had a weird dream. Was thinking about LG recently.

Dreamt we went to a temple then he din feel well. I called ambulance and was massaging his back. Then when the ambulance came, his LS came out. Then cut into next scene, there was a bearded guy whom I was sweeping the floor (dunno why, am I a roadsweeper?) with, told me he is gone. Funnily I did not cry in my dream. Maybe I accepted.

My bucket list

What is my bucket list?

- staycation at a five star hotel

- visit MBS casino

- High class pub?

- Atas restaurant (still can eat?)

- Dye hair blue? (still got hair?)

- Hong kong once more (still can fly?)

Bag peace

Have been buying bags the past 2025.

Bought carlo rino bag for birthday which I sold off shortly after I bought my braun buffel bag. Then when I went penang, i bought uniqlo green tote bag, and then ordered thru lazarda a men sling bag. When in genting, bought a men tote bag for work. Lastly bought a stripe tote bag. 6 bags

Will I have bag peace?

Am always looking for something to buy...

Went out with wj

Started the day ps5ing then I went out to meet wj at 1pm. I was so hungry that i ate auntie ann cheese nuggets before meeting her. It was quite nice.

Ate sphagethi and a blended capuncino at secret receipe. Then decided to go kampong glam which is at lavender. Walked to see 2 mosques. Ate a zam zam murtabak so very full.

Yesterday was really filling.