Boxing Day Blues

It's boxing day today. Why am I working???

Oh dear, somehow the Europeans have influenced me. I need my holiday after Christmas!

I have shopped a little more than usual this December. Is it Christmas mood? Or more retail therapy? Do you men know why women need to buy stuff? Because if you can't read our mind and make us feel better, somehow shopping would.

When you earn money, you can afford it and you just want to treat yourself. Sometimes it would be shoes, at times it would be cosmetics or clothes... This time it just happened to be bags. When I have time to pack my bags, I often am surprised how many I do have. When you don't, you just lose track and keep buying. Two weeks ago, I just donated two big bags of stuff to Salvation Army, I guess I got myself an excuse to buy replacements.

Last week, I managed to put aside some time for the LoveFAD event. My boss finally approved my leave after much consideration. Some weeks ago, my company did a charity event at an orphanage, it struck a cord in me. I see what volunteering is about. I don't like it when you do it to boast your company image, because a lot of companies just do it more as a responsibility than a genuine contribution. When I do it on my own, I know I really enjoy it and that's the reason I took time off (using my own leave) to do it. "Love For A Dollar (LoveFAD)" is an charity event organized by Anderson Junior College to raise fund for Salvation Army through gift wrapping. This is my second year volunteering, and I hope I can continue in the years to come :)

Onboard Logos Hope

If you have no idea what or who Logos Hope is, you're not reading the news, either that or you haven't been out of the house for ages! Check out the link to know more about the huge vessel currently visiting Singapore. It also holds the record of holding the world largest floating book fair. Onboard are 400 crewmembers from over 45 countries who have a common goal of serving the common good, 11 of them are Singaporeans. How I envy them :) With my sea sickness, I doubt I would be able to sail around the world like them! Still, I went for a visit, bought some books and cards, the blanks cards are from various museums in United Kingdom - save me a visit :p Do pay them a visit, as it is their first time they're here, and hopefully not the last. Logos Hope is owned and operated by GBA ships registered under a charitable organization in Germany (I just found out too!) and the ship has sailed around the world, helping countless people in need. Suddenly, I feel like joining them.

Being a volunteer

Besides those activities "forced" by the schools and the companies, this is my second time volunteering. I remember the first time, my sister and me sold paper tulips to raise fund for cancer. It was hard approaching strangers for donations, but when people willingly came up to you, it really made our day. I begin to see and understand why volunteers volunteer when I am one myself. I hang out with people often of similar goals, whom want to do good, to contribute without asking for anything in return. I used to envy these people, I always asked myself why are they so kind, what do they get in return... But today, I don't (and I never found out the answer till today) because it is really enjoyable being one of them. They are usually very nice people whom want to give an extra hand, and the happiness we derive from it, it isn't money. It is the satisfaction we get when we meet other kind people who are willingly to support our cause.

p.s:
On my first day (Mon) we wrapped 35 gifts in 5.5 hours;
On my second day (Fri) we wrapped 119 in 5.5 hours;
On my third (Sat, Christmas eve) we wrapped 98 in 3 hours!

If you suck at gift wrapping, come to us!

I came to know about this event when I did a google search on charity gift wrapping - Love for a dollar. It's basically providing Christmas wrapping service for kind donations going towards Salvation Army. I love my handicrafts, so it is perfect for someone like me. I also found quite a few like-minded people on the same journey.

This morning, I started my first shift. It should be a warm-up before I do it again on Christmas Eve and the Friday before Christmas which I can foresee madness. The first two and a half hours, we literally had no one coming to us with gifts, except for a few kind donations. But later on towards the late afternoon, customers streamed in, mainly students, aunties and uncles whom are not at work. I must say we are quite lucky, we did not encounter anyone who refused to make a donation - any amount, even though we did state a minimum of a dollar. I heard from my fellow volunteer, she encountered one auntie whom made them wrapped the gifts and claimed to have no money when she was carrying a branded handbag and wearing gold necklace. Unfortunately, such people still exists. I hope I don't get to see them during my shifts!

Be your own Santa this Christmas!

Christmas is a few days away... and suddenly my days are packed with lunch appointments. Out of nowhere. I can't meet most of the people I like to see, and so it shall continue into the new year. Today I tried to accomodate meeting two persons but didn't quite work out well, with only the lunch hour to spare.

The boss will be away but he has took the team to an early Christmas lunch filled with thin crusty pizzas. Boss called himself a pizza-monster, and he had 9 slices! Wooohoo. I had 5, came up 3rd in my team of 6, felt very guilty afterwards. It didn't help when he surprised us with adorable Santa and Snowman cupcakes. There's continous supply of chocolates and treats in the office from our business associates - the boss always brings them up for us.

Giving makes one feel very good, doncha think? Like the past years, I would pack small bags of chocolates, sweets and cookies to give away. I also gifted my new lunch buddy at work a small gift, it wasn't an exchange... Today I met my primary school friend for lunch and passed her a small gift too. She sure was surprised. I think surprises are always nice! I have got my surprises too! Thanks Ah man for making the way down to my office with a little red box, and when I opened it, I was delighted - it's packed with DOMO kun stuff! There's also a Santa in the office, making way to everyone's desks distributing little tiny bags, each with Ovalteenies, a chupa chupa & marshmallow. I don't know him, and I don't think he knows everyone, but I guess it's the season of giving... you know.

If you also feel like doing some good, why not contribute to Ronald McDonald House Charities by getting one of these McHappy Day bears for S$3! I just bought one over lunch, my 2nd McDonald's meal this month, I feel quite disgusted, LOL. Actually, it's not too bad since I quite like the fish fillet... so to lessen my own guilt, I got salt-free fries and diet-coke :) Hah. The first time I had lunch there, I saw Grimace, the purple bear, so I told myself I shall visit when they sell Ronald McDonald (which starts today!). I missed the Hamburlger which is also very adorable. The money also helps one of my good friends' daughter whom is benefitting from the charity, she was staying at the Ronald McDonald House when her daughter was undergoing clinical trial in New York. By the way, you don't have to eat there to buy this bear, you can just walk in and make a meal-free purchase.

Not sure where this picture source is from, guess I will copyright this to McDonald's.

Giving

A week before, I dragged a few bags of things to be donated to the company charity event. The stuff collected would be tagged at discounted prices and be sold to the staff. The money then goes to 3 needy organisations.

I gave some clothes, books, neglected things left at home... and even a German language kit which I have no use for. It happened last Wednesday where the charity sale began. It was weird to see your donation on sale and at the same time I was buying some others' donations. I got some brand new scarves and pouch, which will make great Christmas gifts! What more, the money is going to a good cause :)


It's the season of giving. Even on the online game I'm playing I feel like playing Santa. I held an event thrice to give away extra furnitures to other players. You would be surprised how greedy some people can get even when you're being kind to them. They make demands, complain about the freebie, want more or pretend they haven't got it... Christ's sake, it's only a game and there are already such people, can you imagine the reality!? Guess some people just think they deserve something when someone gives it to them - do they even understand gratitude?

Shop guilt-freely

Buy the girl a gift, do charity at the same time and save the earth too.

Woah! Is there such a thing? Yes!

I came across this stall a weekend or two back. I was happily strolling along Singapore River like a tourist, snapping pictures. There was this flea market (over the weekend), many of them selling clothes, bags and fanciful stuff. Walking, walking... I laid my eyes on this stall. Something I have always been eyeing on, but long forgotten (thrown back in my head) but now again reminded when I saw them. Bags made out of recycled rice bags. I saw them on the TV once, someone was making and selling them but unfortunately I didn't manage to get in touch. But I kept a few bags myself (yes, from the 10kg rice) and was thinking one day I will make some myself. Hahaha.

But... they don't come cheap. The people tending this stall are actually volunteers who give up their own time to sell these handmade bags from Cambodia. They are made from rice bags or fish feed bags that came from Vietnam. All of them are handmade, ironed and made with great quality assurance. I am impressed, and I just simply couldn't resist. I wanted one and I still want to own one, I'll probably not sew one as nice! It's nicely covered in transparent plastic and so is waterproof... and I am confident of its durability if it can hold up to 40kg of fish feed. They are called Bloom Bags, the funds from the purchase go direct to the disadvantaged Cambodians who are behind these bags... and it has been helping them to lead better lives. Why not? ;) And they are environmental friendly!


I have gotten compliments for the bag when I bring it out and it also attracts curious stares. The one I got is a similar one to the orange one in the picture but it's white and has blue waves and 2 fishes... love it!

Human hearts

Today is Tulip Hearts Day.

After hours of selling handmade tulips to raise fund for the Children cancer foundation, not only have I realized how many kind loving people there are out there, inevitably it has also shown me the ugly side of the human race.

You have voluntary people coming up and happily hand you the money without anything in return, you see people donating as a form of purchasing the tulips, you also encounter tourists doing you the favour in return for helping them with directions, you see loving mums doing their part so their little children can pick one of those colorful tulips, you witness one or two good boyfriend(s) willingly chipping out for their girlfriend (I've to say this is rare, especially you local men, aren't you kind enough?)...

Unfortunately you also meet people whom treat you invisible, pretend to be deaf or couldn't speak our language (obviously I know he speaks one of the languages, com' on I'm biligual okay!), you have people with eyes constantly on their mobile phone as they walked or staring into the sky, you sometimes have those polite rejections of "No, thank you" or "Sorry" but most of the time you don't even get a sign of "No thanks" but only faces that showed "I have the money but I'm not donating!".

Where is the simple sign of courtesy even if you can't do a little part of contributing, at least smile and say "No, thank you." It doesn't cost a thing yet it would bring a little sunshine to people whom are doing the effort of selling under the hot sun!

Anyway, today I'm giving the prize - Best Lamest Excuse to this foreign old lady whom said,"I'm going to take the plane later." Hello? Does a tulip weigh 20kg, or maybe she needs another 2 bucks more to buy a drink at the Changi Airport?

It's a fun experience, but I still think it is kind of sad to face the world of reality... At least I still believe there are still a lot more compassionate people out there whom have bought the tulips from the fellow fundraisers. I hope...