And the headache begins Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Monday, March 24, 2008

We decided that we should be looking for an interior designer.  We didn't engage one when we bought Hertford.  Hertford was moved in condition and we didn't have budget to do the house.  Infact, we did nothing but just furnished the house with the basic necessities.  We didn't even repaint the house till few years later.

This time round, we wanted to change few things and to get a professional to guide us in making it a dream home.  Afterall, we feel that this is going to be place where, and I often quote to my family members, a place where I will die in.

We met with Chiauw today.  She is an architect by profession and also a designer.  As we are comfortable with her presentation, we shall not be sourcing for other IDs.

Chiauw suggests that we will meet once every week to discuss the whole renovation plan .  I like the enthusiasm and her commitment.

We are getting very excited!

[Continue Reading ...]

The New Nest Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Saturday, March 15, 2008

We probably had viewed less than 10 units since the day we started hunting for a house three weeks ago. We viewed mostly in Jurong East area when we found one that we like best. 

We made three appointments that Saturday with three different housing agents.  They were all a five rooms' flats either door to door or a point block unit.  Strangely, we didn't actually view a 4 room flat throughout the house hunt. 

It was probably the price difference between them, which was not much, and to go for a 5 room would be a better economical choice.

Luck was with us.  We actually liked the very first unit we viewed that morning but didn't want to commit.  After viewing the other two units, we decided to make an offer.  We were told by the agent that there was already an offer made by another party.  We stood firm with our Cash Over Value offer and told him to consider us.

I believed the works of the Universe.  It was the work of Law of Vibrations and Attraction.  We signed the Offer To Purchase that very evening with the seller and omitted the 14 days grace period.

The house plan:
- Size Area:  121sq m
- Type: 5 Improved
- Age of Block:  23 years
- Floor:  5th
- Door: East
- Balcony:  North

Original Layout

And this is how it looks like in 3D.

Original Layout in 3D

The setback:

As much as we wanted a fast transaction, which is normally will take three months to complete the buy-sale of the house, we were told that we needed to give the seller a month extension after the sale completion with HDB. 

The sellers, an elderly couple with no children in their late 60s, decided to downgrade.  To us, they made a wise decision.  At least, they will have the cash to last them through.  Wishing you all the best, Mr & Mrs Monteiro.

[Continue Reading ...]

The Search Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Saturday, March 15, 2008

After much thoughts, and lotsa discussions, we decided that our new house should fall within these few criterias:

01.  Budget

We set the price to be less than S$350K, maximum including of COV.  This will give us less financial burden for our future.  It will limit our search, but at least, we will have a clearer picture as to which part of Singapore we shall be concentrating.

02.  Flat Size/Lease

To be realistic with our set budget - and not move away from our goal, we can only look for an old HDB blocks.  Newer blocks will not be cheap.  We want, rather it is me who want it, a 4 rooms or 5 rooms flat.  The unit has to be door to door and not along any corridor.

I guess after staying in Hertford for so long, it will not be easy for us to stay in a unit along a corridor with many immediate neighbours next to us.  There is nothing wrong with neighbours.  However, we are used to a quiet environment.

At the same time, I prefer to have bigger space.

A 3 rooms' flat suits our needs actually.  But I want to think ahead and to live to honour the abundance in our moment now.  It can be an alternative route for our future ahead too.

We like the newer HDB designs with tall glass windows almost all throughout the house.  There is also the extra service yard where your washing machine can be away from the kitchen area.  Plus, there is the airconditioning compressor area.  Well, as much as they are nice, it is way beyond our budget.

03.  Flat Layout

As I conduct simple Tibetan Geomancy, the layout of the flat must be, preferably, square or rectangle and every bagua is within the house.  This will be a challenge to hunt for the ideal one.

04.  Location

The choice for location becomes clearer with such a budget. 

We can choose Sengkang or Punggol and enjoy the new flats but it is, definitely, not convenient when it comes to work proximity.  Prices in other estates, along NEL, are also not cheap based on the size flat that we are looking for.

Estates east of Singapore, like Tampines and Bedok, are out of the question.  The next possibility is looking west - this is also nearer to work but without the MRT.

Ideally, we prefer to be in central area - afterall, we are used to it for the last 20 years.

05.  The Hunt

We decide to start with Jurong East and Bukit Batok.

[Continue Reading ...]

The Big Day Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Saturday, March 15, 2008

Our search for a new house ended today.  It will be a new beginning, a new settlement.  It ends months of unsettled decisions.

The opportunity that was bestowed upon us made us to review our future strategy.  20 years ago, we bought our first property and it had served us well.  We didn't expect to move out.  We always felt that we could live here a little longer - at least for the next few years till one of us reach 55.  Then, it would  be the time where we ought to plan for our retirement.

We built our nest in Hertford.  It would always be a place that we shall remember very dearly and a place that we MUST, as we moved ahead, looked back with gratitude.  We grew up there - we were hardly 30 then.  There were many stories, many events, many twists and turns, many laughters and sorrows too, many guests, many parties .. - above all, we managed to keep each other company for bad and for good.  It was a place where human foundation was built on.

Hertford, we will always love you.


You were a blessed sanctuary for us.  With your shelter, together we grew - where each day filled with life lessons.  You were the abundance behind our peace and joy.

[Continue Reading ...]

The New Beginning Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Saturday, March 15, 2008

Every end is a new beginning.  And this blog is about that - it is the end of an inert energy and to be proactive with my new environment.

I guess the time is now right.  I want to express my feelings.  And it comes with the joy of setting up a new home and a farewell to a sanctuary that housed me for the last 20 years.  It shall be about moving on and letting go - and to celebrate the end and the new beginning.

It is said that CHANGE comes in 3 ways:

01.  From experience
02.  From learning and
03.  From crisis/catastrophe

In my case, and for the birth of this blog, it definitely arises from an emotional crisis where I have to uproot from Hertford - and my friends called it the mountain of my hideout, to somewhere new.

I have always wanted to write a blog.  Often, my mind has so much things going on.  I always felt it would be good to calm it down by writing the thoughts - to imprint them so that I can reflect the values, mind mapping my path and let it serve as foundation where I should honour and embrace permanently into my life.

Day after day, year after year and they just passed.  And today, I am happy with the invigorating energy that has sparked into an explosion of joy.  I have a blog!

To my readers, and I do hope there'll be, a warmth welcome into my life. Hopefully, as i walk my life each day, we get to share and learn together.

Peace. Joy. Love.

[Continue Reading ...]