I wonder how many people in Singapore would do this; staying in the west already, working in the west, and still working in the west, but purposely finding a place in the east to move.. haha.. Well, many people stay in the east and work in the west (like Bren and Chee Boon) and vice versa. But it's totally a different story. They are staying in their own house, so they can't just simply move house in order to be near to their workplace, which is always temporary. But we.. (err, I, if not all of us).. I/We purposely go and find places in the East (because Central is too expensive).
Last nite, on the way back from Bedok Reservoir, the more I thought of it, the more I felt very funny and unbelievable and... kinda shameful to tell my colleagues, frens, cousins, etc, if I'm really moving (though actually, we don't have to feel embarrased, it's our freedom! haha...). Well, you know, their reaction will be things like "Whatt?? R u kidding? R u crazy? Xiao ar you? Ciak pa bo se co... bla bla bla..." hahaha... So I was telling Den n pho that if we are really moving, I'll just keep quite until the time when they find out by themselves, haha...
Anyway, before I continue with my story of last night and tonight, actually my idea of moving to East is because of this:
1. First of all, we want to move. Else, we would be comfortable enough to stay on here. Why move? First, we are not very happy with the other two housemates (especially that one). Second, Pho's mum is here, and there's no enough space here, so it actually adds up the urgency of us finding a new place.
2. Since we want to move, and since our church (me and Den), cell group and community is there in the East, and since we already have intention to change job, why not move closer to church and community and hope to get a job somewhere in Central or East?
3. By moving to East, it's much more feasible for me to join more or be involved more in Church activities and ministries. I remember very well my hesitation to decide to join Church choir (because of where I stay), though after some struggle, I decided to join (by the strong calling to serve God through the gift/talent that He has given me, and by the faith that God will take care of the rest of my needs, be it time and place to stay).
4. When guests are staying at our place, by staying at Boon Lay, it really makes us only reach home very very late after the "jalan-jalan", because of the travel distance.
5. We have breathed enough of West air (quoting from Hock Chye ^^). East air is really undeniable fresherrrr..
So... Pho, Den, Silvy and I, plus Pho's mum...
We started with a unit in Kallang. Quite like it. Owner asked for 2.2K, we requested for 1.8K, but owner could only lower to 2K, and we couldn't take it. Out... (quite disappointed)
The next day, we went to view an executive maissenate flat at Bedok Reservoir which was fabulous... A very spacious windy 2-storey nice view flat with ask price of 2K negotiable. Can you imaginee??? We (Pho, Silvy and I) were sooo tempted by it and 'xin yang yang' for the whole night. But, it's quite far. 10 minutes bus-ride to Bedok Interchange. The agent also didn't put any hope on us, knowing that 3 of us work in the west. So we kinda didn't pursue it and slowly the 'xin yang yang' died off, haha... That was about 3 or 4 weeks ago.
After that I was busy with Amy, Evian and Cindy's visit, so no house viewing for 2 weeks.
Last Saturday, Pho and I started viewing again, 2 unit at Paya Lebar. Both are 2+1+1, with 2 bedrooms and 1 utility room. Not interested at all, very small unit, quite a distance for walking to MRT stn, and still priced at 1.8K.
I started feeling tired and sick of viewing house. It is really not fun at all, especially if you reach to those small and old unit. (except the Bedok Reservoir one lor, very different feeling, haha..)
Monday (replacement of National Day Public Holiday), Pho and I started circling on newspaper again. Tuesday Deni called those circled, and made 2 viewing appointments on that night after work. Both units are at Bedok, and this time we had perfect attendance (Pho, I, Silvy, Deni - without Pho's mum)
Before going, I was praying that if any of the units are the one from God, may God give all of us the uniformity of feeling towards the house, that we will all 'like' the house.
We reached the first unit, was ok, with new aircon, but quite an old house with old furniture, and just not bright n fresh. I was so so with it, but Silvy disliked it pretty much.
Proceed to second unit, block 90. Despite of the outside which I felt a bit 'terpencil', dark, with construction going on, the inside of the house was quite nicely redone, with kinda big bedrooms. But, agent sticked to 2K. Plus it's not that we like it very much, so we decided it's a NO.
However, before that, after viewing the two units, suddenly, Silvy mentioned bout the one in Bedok Reservoir (Blk 725). My first respond was, "aiyahh.. sure taken one lah... so nice house with so good price, who don't want??" Then, after nini nana here n there a bit, while having our bak chor mee at blk 85 market, we decided to give Francis (the agent) a call. So, I called. "Hi Francis, Julia here, we viewed the unit at Bedok Reservoir Rd, remember?", and surprisingly, he remembered us very well. I continued, "is it taken already?". Even more surprisingly, "No, it's not taken yet." My eyes were opened big to show my surprise to the 3 of them. "I understood you were saying 2K negotiatable, can pls ask owner if it can be 1.8K?". Francis agreed and asked this again, "Are you guys serious? Have you carefully thought of the distance?", haha...
And... more more surprisingly, owner OK with that price, plus our request for TV and additional beds and mattrass. We were shocked, didn't know how to respond. Really, because we were actually just try try only, thinking that it's very impossible that it'll still be available.
Before calling, we had concern that Deni hasn't seen the house. And guess what, Francis offered us to view once more.. hey.. it's him to offered, we didn't ask for it, okayyy...
So, we went.. at 10pm, haha.. crazy women...
(Nevertheless, from the moment we were thinking to call Francis, I had kept on been praying in my heart)
Francis said, should be ok, but will confirm again the next day (which is today), because the husband of the owner had slept.
But it's like kinda confirmed already. On that night, I was kinda sad.. haha... it's not that I don't want to move to there lor.. I want... but just very sad, thinking of how I have to wake up so early in the morning to start work at 8am in Bukit Batok. But also hesitant to say NO.
It's on the way back (in the cab), that I felt everything was very funny, and we're a bit crazy, haha...
Today, I was too occupied by work in the office and no space n time to feel anything or to think about this matter at all. In midst of it, Deni informed that Francis told us that owner is OK with price n requests, and asking us to send him our particulars so he can do the contract. AArrggghh... how r we supposed to reply??? So we kept quiet, haha...
And, you must hear this silly thing that Pho and I did. It's my idea, though, haha...
After work, we actually took the MRT to Bedok, then bus to Bedok Reservoir, in order to try to take the express bus 506 to Jurong East, haha...
This is what I get:
Office to Clementi (Bus): $0.91 (10 mins)
Clementi to Bedok (MRT): $1.07 (36 mins)
Bedok to 'Home' (Bus): $0.69 (10 mins)
And after that, guess what... Bus 506 from 'Home' to a bus stop just before the turning to Bukit Batok St 23 only takes about 40 mins. From that bus stop, I can take 189 (1 stop) to infront of office, or just walk 10-15 mins to office. Yes, it takes longer than now, but now is 10 mins walk to MRT stn, MRT to Jurong East, change train to Bt. Batok, walk to bus interchange, wait for bus, bus to office, cross the road to reach office. Pls compare it to: take bus from in front of house, sit in the bus for 40 mins, take another bus to infront of office or just walk to office.
So for me, the result of this trial is a Haleluya, hehe... Totally a different feeling with last night.
And because Pho and Deni were still considering, I asked Francis whether it's ok if we get back to him in details on Saturday. He just said OK and will draft to us the contract thingy for us to see first. Hey... I mean, where can u find such a flexible, nice to talk, cin cai, helpful agent??? Just totally different with the rest of the agents that we met.
The more I thought of it, the more I thought it's really a grace.
God, thank You for bringing and leading us through... all the way til this stage. We still want to surrender everything into Your mighty hands, trusting You only, and not at all on ourselves. Pls show us Your way, and Your will... And help us to understand and obey. In precious Christ Name, Amen!
And here's the recipient, with her son
I'm so glad that Cheng Cheng got it. A tough single mother whom we all love. And, it was her son's (A Shan) birthday. 