Re charging

Getting a massage at my favourite spa in CM. 2 more weeks before getting back to work.

I am going to miss this.

Electronics rock

Post dinner activity

In the year that we are all supposed to die

In case you are like me (i.e. busy and extremely occupied), you might have not noticed until you accidentally move your mouse over the right bottom corner of your screen that January is almost over. 23 days of 2013 just flew by like that. This is just so unbelievable.

And despite being kept busy by Mini's routine, I have many occasions in a day to sort, re-sort and un-sort thoughts in my mind. One of the recurring idea that keeps popping up involves setting resolutions for 2013. Even as a chapter of the year is almost closing, it is never too late for resolutions. As a matter of fact, for resolutions to be effective they need to be time bound, but that does not mean it needs to be calendar bound. Well, let's take it that my year starts in February.

On the other hand, I have procrastinated penning resolutions for 2013 as I have increased skepticism in the need to do so. I am  not so sure about setting resolutions for myself this year. Motherhood has led me to believe that you just can't be in control of your life all the time. Perhaps not being in control and letting things happen makes an otherwise boring and predictable life more exciting. A somewhat more valuable thing to do seems to be recalling what happened in the past year, and making sense of the 365 days that went by.

Summing up, 2012 was one of the most eventful year of my life. Obviously nothing can contest going through 38 weeks having a baby growing inside you for the first time in your life without your close ones around (of course except for P who I am very glad to have beside me all the time). But a lot had also happened in 2012.

Work wise, in the year that some thought the world is going to end, I completed my visits to all country offices in Asia. First half of 2012 was filled with travels and it brought me to many places around Asia and letting me meet many people who I wish we have more time together with. My 2-week trip to Burma at 7 weeks pregnant was one of my most memorable work trip. During my visit, I met people who are passionate about the cause they believe in and that made me love and appreciated my work so much more. And then there was also the visit to New Delhi that gave me the chance to visit the magnificent Taj Mahal. Before I left for my maternity leave, I was informed that we secured a grant from EU. Last month, another country office got through to the full proposal stage for a global call. These were all fantastic stuff. In 2012 I also got involved with humanitarian issues which has since been made my official portfolio. I remember the days when I scrambled to send off my resume to Mercy Relief during the early days of the tsunami when it happened in 2004, only to be greeted by a cold air of silence. And when I was offered the opportunity to work with humanitarian issues I thought to myself that: "MAN, THIS IS IT!".

As I have been reminded by myself frequently, this is my 6th year away from Singapore. And you would have thought that I should be getting used to the notion of being away from home. I am not sure if this is going to happen, but it has yet to. Increasingly, I am feeling emotional as the time spent away from home lengthens. Because, let's face it, my folks are getting older and they probably need me around more now than before. My dad who has retired for half a year now gives me a call almost every other day. I try not to read too much into the frequency, but on days when I am feeling a bit down, it saddens me a lot to think about how little time and companionship I can offer him at the time that he needs the most. And for every merit I make in life, I wish and pray for nothing in return except good health for my folks because nothing really matters more than that at this age they are at. And in 2012, I felt very blessed for the arrival of Utt and my dad's retirement, we managed to spend a month together. I haven't had the chance to spend this much time with them since I left Singapore in 2007. It has been a long time and I am glad that I can finally feel like a pampered child again. At least for one full month. And as the year wrapped up in December, we also gladly had MM and Hoe visiting.

Nothing crazy happened to my marriage in 2012 which is a blessing in disguise to a couple half a decade married. In the year that we finally called ourselves parents, I was glad to have found P more giving than ever. In 2012 we made adjustments together as a family. Our mornings now start at 6-7 and our nights end before 10. We count ourselves very lucky to be able to have a few hours of couple time after putting Mini down to sleep at 7 every night. Brave was the movie we last saw in the theatre but it doesn't seem to matter that much now that we may have to miss blockbusters, suppers and night out for a while.

2012 was good to me and I am sure 2013 will be the same .

When the man takes charge

Today is the first day Papa is trying his hands in putting Mini to sleep all by himself, meaning bathing then feeding and singing the Mini lullabies before putting him down into his cot and sneaking out of his room.

And Papa did it!

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.10

Taking shape

18 weeks on and Mama is still trying to get rid of the last 2-3 kg. Breastfeeding has helped a lot with the initial weight loss but the last lap needs additional discipline and effort. And so, Mama is taking extra care in my food intake. 

Lunch this afternoon:  Organic greens with tuna in extra virgin olive oil. Mama is taking extra care to make sure that the food I eat is beneficial for Mini by including healthy choices and today's avocado!

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.10

Mama having some fun at the manicurist's

Buddy of Buddy

He sneaks out of his house (literally, through the grilles) when he hears our car at the porch because he knows that is the time for him to get in and play with Buddy in our garden

 

 

Tomorrow is the present

On some days, I get up thinking "What have I done to deserve all these in my life"

I am not kidding.

We are still on the hunt for a new place.
We are still short of cash, as always.
I haven't bought my Mulberry.
I am still living away from my beloved family.
Airasia actually stops flying direct to Singapore this May and I am left with an expensive choice, i.e. Singapore very own boutique airline.

The list is non-exhaustive.

Still, I am full of contentment and I welcome each new day with wide opened arms. As tomorrow will be a better day.

Happy St. Valentine's!

Greeted by a huge ass bouquet on the kitchen island that is so not P's style.

Dear Mini Us,

As much as Mama is look forward to your arrival, Mama is also worried about the loss of intimate times with Papa. Papa and Mama have lots of adjustment to make but I am sure we will try our best.

Love,
Mama

Measuring one meter, my biggest bouquet so far

Open heart

2012 过了16天。

我愛我的2012。

你呢？

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hello 2012, I have been waiting!

Lazing around in the house on the second day of 2012, the last day of my long break before getting back to work. Last week of 2011 was a blast, and to be fair, the whole of 2011 was. Apart from landing myself in a fabulous job, we met buddy who has brought so much joy and liveliness. We have now spent 1.5 years in our own nest and as time goes by, have ironed out issues we had before, gotten used to who-says-what in the house and are continuously learning to accomodate each other's needs and habits. For 2-3 months now, we have opened the flood gate and are anticipating arrival of a new member in 2012. I am glad that in the past months the wait has given us opportunities to discuss about the impending change, our interpretation of modern parenting, etc. and are preparing ourselves to receive a new life in 2012 patiently as the wait goes on. 2011 was a hectic year for me, particularly the November-December period, drowning me in meetings/work and I was feeling the fatigue from all the travellings I have to make.

All in all 2011 was fantastic. And so I hope, the force continues to be with me, my family and friends in year 2012!

Healthy again

Recovering from a multi virus attack that came to me the day I returned from Dhaka. Today is the first day I stop feeling that staying awake is a pain. And miraculously my appetite returned and I am now feeling hungry for KFC, Mac, Fish and Chips, and all other you can name it junk food.

Short trip to Dhaka was worthwhile considering the inputs received for the proposal. Off to Seoul on Friday (and please let the mourning last longer and anything else not come. God bless South Korea).

Looking forward to getting home for another dear sis's wedding, to celebrating Chinese New Year with P for the first time back in Sg, to my first trip to Burma and of course our planned trip to the beach in July (which is in 7 months' time!!!)

2012, bring it on!

Attacked by dog

Attacked by neighbour's dog while protecting buddy (who was shivering with fear)




Dog walking is getting dangerous

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Roadmap for an ASEAN community

This roadmap (2009-2015) has no indicator.

Rights to emit greenhouse gases and taking historical accountability

Poor nations say wealthy countries became rich using coal, oil and gas and that they must be allowed to burn fossil fuels to escape poverty. Rich nations say major developing economies, such as China, India and Brazil, must submit to emissions cuts if the world has any chance of halting dangerous climate change. -- Last chance to save Kyoto deal at climate talks

More reading:
‘Vulnerable countries consider “occupying” COP17 talks’

Some additional information:
The objective of the Kyoto climate change conference was to establish a legally binding international agreement, whereby all the participating nations commit themselves to tackling the issue of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, USA is not a signatory of the protocol  

U.S. History with the Protocol, from Wikipedia  

Clinton Administration 
Vice President Al Gore was a main participant in putting the Kyoto Protocol together in 1997. President Bill Clinton signed the agreement in 1997, but the US Senate refused to ratify it, citing potential damage to the US economy required by compliance. The Senate also balked at the agreement because it excluded certain developing countries, including India and China, from having to comply with new emissions standards. 

Bush administration 
Similar objections to the Kyoto Protocol were why the Bush administration refused to sign. They argued the division between Annex 1 and developing countries was unfair, and that both countries needed to reduce their emissions unilaterally. President George W. Bush claimed that the cost of following the Protocols requirements will stress the economy. “George Bush made campaign promises in 2000 to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. However, in 2001, George Bush pulled the US out of the Kyoto accords as one of the first acts of his presidency. Bush dismissed Kyoto Protocol as too costly, describing it as "an unrealistic and ever-tightening straitjacket." The Bush administration questioned the validity of the science behind global warming, and claims that millions of jobs will be lost if the US joins in this world pact.

Al Gore accused Bush of showing the world "a stunning display of moral cowardice." "Kyoto's ability to survive the near-fatal attacks of the Bush administration is testimony to the urgency of the climate problem." Worldwatch Institute Laurie David, Natural Resources Defense Council said, "As the world celebrates the global warming pact's debut, Bush continues to pander to the energy industry."

Obama Administration 
President Obama was elected under widespread belief that shortly after arriving in office he would take swift and decisive action to join the world in reducing GHG emissions and therefore helping battle global climate change. According to The American, “Obama was widely expected to quickly pass a Kyoto-style domestic cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases, positioning America to take the moral high ground in Copenhagen, thus luring (or compelling) China and India to accept emissions targets.". Signing the Kyoto protocol seemed like the logical first step so it came as a surprise when he rejected the Kyoto protocol for reasons similar to those of former president Bush. According to The American, “the treaty’s fundamental flaws were well understood: It set very ambitious—and costly—targets for the United States while allowing emissions from the developing world to continue to rise unchecked. (And indeed today, despite Kyoto’s ratification, China has become the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases. Americans don’t mind contributing to a solution, but Kyoto asked a lot of sacrifice for little reward.”. President Obama was also expected to represent the U.S in Copenhagen and negotiate terms for the extension of the Kyoto Protocol past 2012. Yet instead of the U.S. contributing to the development and signing of a Kyoto-like treaty, the U.S. is suggesting extreme modifications of the Kyoto emission management system and precipitating intense debates and clashes over the treaty which will follow Kyoto.  

Objections to the Kyoto Protocol and U.S refusal to sign
The Kyoto Protocol was a huge leap forward towards an intergovernmental united strategy to reduce GHG’s emissions globally. But it wasn’t without its objections. Some of the main criticisms were against categorizing different countries into annexes, with each annex having its own responsibility for emission reductions based on historic GHG emissions and, therefore, historic contribution to global climate change. “Some of the criticism of the Protocol has been based on the idea of climate justice." This has particularly centered on the balance between the low emissions and high vulnerability of the developing world to climate change, compared to high emissions in the developed world.” Other objections were the use of carbon off-sets as a method for a country to reduce its carbon emissions. Although it can be beneficial to balance out one GHG emission by implementing an equal carbon offset, it still doesn’t completely eliminate the original carbon emission and therefore ultimately reduce the amount of GHG’s in the atmosphere.

Many countries fear these new treaty additions will paralyze negotiations and stop many of the countries currently under the Kyoto Protocol from resigning as well as stop new countries, like China and India, from signing. “the Obama administration’s proposals could undermine a new global treaty and weaken the world’s ability to stave off the worst effects of climate change.” Many people feel that the combination of the U.S not signing the Kyoto Protocol (ensuring it will run out in 2012) and the U.S. attempt to change almost the entire architecture of the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen means the end of the Kyoto Protocol as we know it and perhaps a new global climate treaty. “If Kyoto is scrapped, it could take several years to negotiate a replacement framework, a delay that could strike a terminal blow at efforts to prevent dangerous climate change. In Europe we want to build on Kyoto, but the US proposal would in effect kill it off. If we have to start from scratch then it all takes time. It could be 2015 or 2016 before something is in place, who knows."

-----

My take on this is very simple: China has become the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases but based on carbon emissions per capita, U.S. is ranked 12 while China 78, Brazil 124 and India 145, all behind U.S. and even Singapore. In the 2011 report on HDI, U.S. was ranked 4 while China was 101, i.e. China still has a lot to do in terms of Human Development. Although the major disagreement with the Protocol seems to lie in the fact that countries such as India and China and smaller developing countries were not restricted, I wonder if it is fair for less developed and developing countries (particularly China, India, Brazil) to be subjected to restriction at this point when their economies are rapidly expanding and they have been in a way being brought to this point and made to bear the climate effects of the developments that failed to equitably benefit their economies in the past centuries. Why then shouldn't the Protocol also take into account the retrospective accountability of today's climate change?

I found this excellent paper that exactly echoes my thoughts and I love this quote:

‘‘The idea that developing countries like India and China must share the blame for heating up the earth and destabilising its climate (…) is an excellent example of environmental colonialism.’’ (Agarwal and Narain, 1991, p. 1).

I hope when the day comes that polar bears go into extinction, Bush and Obama and everyone who voted against the ratification of the Protocol is able to sleep at night

The thought of money behind every smile

Town planning law to be amended

P and I had constant talks about how badly imposed the restrictions are by the City Planning Authority (not just in Bangkok, but the rest of Thailand). City development in Thailand is characterised by commercial developments mushrooming in zones obviously meant only for residential purposes and massive road congestions at peak hours (and despite the bad traffic situation Prime Minister Yingluck insisted the government's tax privilege policies for first-car and first-home buyers should go ahead). Over a casual dinner, my friend convinced me that the problem is not with the lack of law, but the lack of enforcement which is very much link to corrupted officials.

In the recent budget debate, PM said the policies would stimulate the economy and do not cost much money. The policies were promised by her Pheu Thai Party to the people so they could establish themselves with a car and home more easily.

I am not talking about home ownership here because given the current political situation and lack of effective town planning, it is a pandora box. But establishing themselves with a car? I mean seriously, WTF is she talking about? And there is no mention of investing in support infrastructure. If you think that getting into a sardine-packed train is bad, think of getting stuck in traffic jams and then looking effortlessly for parking spaces and then getting stuck in traffic jams again. As least you are given a choice to opt for public transport. Here in Thailand, public transport does not exist.

The eulogy that makes me smile

For a man who left a legacy, the most admirable is probably his immense passion for life and the affection for the people he loved.

 

Read A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs

Freedom fighters on the wall

This is a picture of pictures




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Size

Colleague asked if I have slimmed down, just a day after nanny BM* asked if I am pregnant.

Just as beauty, size is subjective.

*BM is an acronym for Big Mouth

Inch Chua

If you have not heard of her