Missing you

Away from home for four years and more,
my heart yearns to reach your eastern shores.
Cycling along your curves in the gentle breeze,
in your warm embrace I shall forever squeeze.
Ah! How I miss you so!
Thinking of you shall never grow old.
For eternal is our sacred bond;
never mind even if I am vagabond.....
No distance shall tear us apart,
for you are always in my heart.
My Singapore! My Singapore!

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A poem I wrote in my first year in Athens (2009) to celebrate National Day - after spending 4 years in Shanghai previously.

Boxing day in Athens

Took a walk yesterday on Boxing Day downtown in Athens.

Most shops were closed, but there were lots of street vendors and performers, together they created a bit of carnival atmosphere here.  Loads of people on the streets. Families with children, lovers, and groups of friends.  I am the lone Chinese man......

Ever felt alone in a crowd?  I guess holidays do bring out the "missing home" feeling in me.  It's a bittersweet feeling.  I miss mom (OK, I am a mama's boy.  There, I've said it!)

The good news is that soon it will be Chinese New Year in 5 weeks' time.  Have been saving my vacation days for my longest vacation to date: 4 weeks for my home leave in Singapore.  I will also take 5 days to visit my brother and sis-in-law in Guangzhou, China.

Family.

Anyone out there like me working alone overseas; away from friends family?  Do share your thoughts with me.

12 months to financial freedom!

2 more days before Christmas. Time for a bit of reflection.......

Things are working well financially for me.  If I don't make silly mistakes for the next 12 months, I should be able to retire "early" by the end of next Christmas after my 44th birthday in November 2011.

My original plan was to retire at 55. But hey! 7 years of working overseas has accelerated my savings power by 3 fold.  If ah kong (Singapore lingo to mean "company") pays for housing, utilities, and mobile, it's not difficult to up-size my savings (No, I am not a high income earner; more a low maintenance guy. Any rich ladies reading this?).

Add "lucky" investment made during this financial crisis, my passive cash flow is now able to support my desired lifestyle: be a Singapore Man of Leisure (And I don't have to marry a rich wife to do that, sigh.....).

This "virgin' post is to track my journey towards the "R" day.

Wish me luck!