The Premiere Tampines

I finally got the chance to take a look at the showflat of The Premiere, the latest HDB to be built in Tampines. The area has not had any new flats for the past ten years so this excited many potential house buyers.



My wife and I had been waiting anxiously for the showflat opening. It started last weekend but the crowd was unbelievable. It was much much better this time.


How many people can you spot?

But the showflat still has too many people for my picture to tell anything, with the exception that it can hold many people.

There are two different showflats, one deck in black theme and the other in white. The theme is very gothic for the black one and very modern yuppies style for the latter.


I like the wallpaper

The design is very idealistic. Even the bomb shelter was coverted into an art piece. Who in the world would have zilch stuff to keep in the bomb shelter.


So.. sleepy

As with all new HDB, the room remains to be small. One bed and that's about all for nothing else.



The most impressive would be the balcony. Large enough for a bench and an indented section for plants.


With mirrors so big, who need walls

But the most impressive collection of props they had must be the....




...LAMPS...



VERY BIG LAMPS~~!...



Most really nice enough to distract one away from the many shortcomings..



like the plain ceiling...(the flat are supposed to be in moved-in condition, akin to condo)



the obvious power outlet...

But you can't help but wonder where they get these very impressive chadeliers..



$450k for a small HDB? No problem..



Just make sure it comes with one of these...

Debt free so easy meh...

Much as I try to be financially prudent, my efforts really look as big as a speck of dust when I see what others have managed to achieve.

On the other hand, the writer husband must be drawing real BIG bucks. Not many people I know can pay cash in full even for a Kia, let alone a Toyota.

So when I come across such letter, it doesn't really make me feel good. Need some retail therapy to help me get over this.

HDB flat, two kids, aged parents - and debt-free

Oct 13, 2006
The Straits Times

I REFER to the letter, 'Govt should relook income qualifying levels' (ST, Oct 7), and the writer's reason for buying a private property and not having children.

My husband and I have two young children and are totally debt-free. Even though we each hold a master's degree, I chose to be a stay-at-home mum to nurture our children. Despite surviving on a single income, we are debt-free.

We have paid fully for our home and car. We give our children a good standard of living and education. We support aged parents. We also set aside enough for rainy days and are saving diligently for our retirement.

The key to financial freedom is to live beneath your means.

We could have bought a private apartment with a loan but we chose to live in a five-room resale flat, paid for with our CPF.

We could have bought a BMW with a loan but we chose to buy a Toyota, paid for in cash.

The interest savings from being debt-free could be used to support one's aged parents and young children.

Subsidies should be channelled to people whose needs are greater than ours.

Allison Yeo Li Hwa (Ms)

Johor

I surprised myself over the weekend. I actually went into JB(Johor Bahru) to spend my saturday.

The last time I was there was more than a year ago. It was that long because I spent a total of 2 hours in JB that time before heading back to Singapore.

The routine was always the same. City Square, Holiday Plaza(Now called Mutiara), The Store and Pelangi.

My 2 hours trip then didn't encompass all 4 places but thinking that I have real objective of going to the latter 3, I decided not to and head home instead.

And the crowd at the custom was always a killer. Surprisingly it was very swift. Maybe the Hari Raya fasting got most people hanging at home instead. I didn't even need to queue at the Malaysia custom.



My friend and I reached there about 2pm and spent way too much time walking around at City Square. It's really a good place to go hunting for CNY clothes.



The highlight must be the thai massage. It cost RM65 for 90 mins.

I never screamed louder in my life before. She had to cover my mouth at one point.



And for those who don't know, xbox 360 can be modified. RM50 or RM100, depending on the kind of ROM chips it carried.



Despite how the hawker centre seems to make you think the food here is good, it isn't. Pretty disapppointed.



I think I can cook a better fried oyster.



My next target massage centre when I'm there again. Man Zhu Shuang!

Blur blur Singapore

The recent forest fire in Indonesia(Yes, I'm sure all of them are accidental) has created quite an atmosphere to Singapore in my opinion.

It make places look so mystic doesn't it. Sometime things not so clear may not necessarily be a bad thing. They do smell terrible I must admit

For one, it sure make the traffic condition much better. You don't see any driver crazy enough to zig zag along the highway in such visibility.



According to ChannelNewAsia, the pollutants index stands at a high of 80 today. 20 more and we can all start ordering in our meals.



It would be kinda cool if that were to happen on a weekday. Offices would be closed and schools would be shut.



And everyone could take a breather and spend more time with their family at home. Singaporeans are too stressed up, even those that are not working.

It sure would at least make Singapore more interesting in a way. Something unpredictable.

We may be one of the safest countries in the world but safe can be so plain boring when it become so consistent.

It's like those super nice guys that could give any women a safe sense of security.

These are safe people really. But no women want them. Too boring.

So please forest fire setter, do all of us a favour and be more hardworking this time. Let us have a Monday off!


Post Note: Singapore PSI hits new high of 130