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The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Home for the Holidays

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Home for the Holidays

Excerpt:

The family just came home from Semarang, Indonesia, from our family vacation. It was beautiful, not too warm, and the air was lovely, especially in the hills of Bandungan.

I wish we had stayed longer.

Yup, we came home to PSI 401 haze caused by Indonesian forest fires. The irony is not lost on me.

We are making the best of things. I managed to find some N95 masks for everyone in the household after some searching. Those masks are the new Hello Kitty, as limited edition as they come. Nobody seems to have any stock.

My wife took one look at the N95 mask I bought and said, "A bit ugly leh. Don't have the thinner one ah?" (cont'd)

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Have Gift Will Travel

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Have Gift Will Travel

Excerpt:

I travel quite a bit for work and each time I do, I have to stress over what to buy home, for the kids, for the wife, for my mom who helps to look after the children (and sometimes the wife helps too, if she's not with me).

It has become such a thing that the first thing my children say when they see me drag my weary, jet-lagged body home from the airport is not "Welcome home, O Head of Our Household! Allow us to massage your tired feet and prepare your milk bath."

No, their first words are usually, "Papa! You are home! What did you buy for us this time?" (cont'd)

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Random conversations on a Saturday night

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Random conversations on a Saturday night

Excerpt:

"Papa," said Joy, my youngest one night, "Carry your granddaughter."

"What?"

"My doll," my seven-year-old said, putting the diaper-wearing baby doll wrapped in a small towel in my arms.

"I have a granddaughter? Who is the mother?" I asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"Me lah!" she said, laughing.

"Then who is the father?" I know I am setting myself up… (cont'd)

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Little Lessons

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Little Lessons

Excerpt:

The wife and I are in Bali as I write this, taking a little break from work. We do this once a year on average, without the kids. While we still take the kids to short holidays during their school holidays, we make the time to be with each other as husband and wife too.

The wife has learned to let go of her children. She used to angst over our kid-less trips, and miss the kids a lot. But now, she is much better at enjoying herself without feeling guilty. And the kids have also learned to be totally cool without their parents for a few days, enjoying the company of our capable helper and my mom. Even their uncles, my brothers, chip in to take my kids out for a movie or a trip to the Science Centre, in our absence. (cont'd)

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Turning Twelve

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): Turning Twelve

Excerpt:

A few days ago, my firstborn turned twelve.

Twelve years old: One cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The number of years it takes to make a single malt whiskey. The year for Primary School Leaving Examination.

Twelve years ago, my child was born. Sixteen years ago, my wife and I got married. And twenty-four years ago. my wife decided she would go steady with me.

Little did we know where our journey as a couple would take us. Little did we know of the challenges, and the joys, ahead. (cont'd)

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): The Best Toy Ever

The Family Series by mrbrown (at Yahoo!): The Best Toy Ever

Excerpt:

When I was a child, we couldn't afford many toys. My mother told me to suck it up and play with whatever toys she could get me from her friends. Not only did we have hand-me-down clothes, we also had hand-me-down toys.

We didn't really mind, my two younger brothers and I. But we did sometimes wish we could have a Six Million Dollar Man action figure with Bionic Eye and Working Bionic Grip (or even his balding boss, Oscar Goldman) or a few more Star Wars figures (I had about five). (cont'd)

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown speaks to Mdm Choo Bee Hoon

I had the honour of speaking to Madam Choo Bee Hoon, Deputy Director of Morality, and asked her what she felt about morality standards of civil servants and MPs, after two top civil servants were recently arrested over allegations of serious personal misconduct and former Workers' Party member Yaw Shin Leong's recent fiasco over an alleged affair.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/yiiAoF

Watch for more interviews at the Yahoo Entertainment page, at the mrbrown tab!

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown speaks to Miss Singapore Universe, Valerie Lim

I spoke to Miss Singapore Universe 2011, Miss Valerie Lim. The leggy 25-year-old represented Singapore at last year's Miss Universe International pageant in Brazil and was also crowned Miss Body Beautiful.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/x2YZR4

Watch for more interviews at the Yahoo Entertainment page, at the mrbrown tab!

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown speaks to Inch Chua

I interviewed singer/songwriter Inch Chua in Los Angeles. She had just begun a new journey in her music career. There is a lot of talent in that wee lass, I tell ya. Watch the interview and find out for yourself.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/yia4d5

Watch for more interviews at the Yahoo Entertainment page, at the mrbrown tab!

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown talks to IT Guy, Benedict Siew Hoon Kee

I interviewed Singapore IT Guy and Sim Lim Square social commentator, Benedict Siew Hoon Kee and asked his views on scandals and IT stuff.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/xtBA7p

Watch for more interviews (some with real people even) at the Yahoo Entertainment page, at the mrbrown tab. Yes, I have my own tab there. I didn't even know that!

Or you can use this URL: http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/mrbrown/

And in case you missed it, my Yahoo series kicked off in December 2011, with my interview of the Muppets and the new Muppets movie (which was AWESOME, by the way): http://mrbrwn.co/xH5cwy

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown speaks to Minister Midas Jin Jue Lui

I speak to the eloquent Minister Midas Jin Jue Lui, who was also featured on the mrbrown show recently.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/zqSv7Z

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown meets The Muppets

The Muppets are back after a 12-year hiatus! I got to speak to Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Walter (the new Muppet on the block), Kermit the Frog and the ever-diva Miss Piggy in Hollywood about their new movie.

My life is complete.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/A2UAxh

This is a photo I took with Kermit and Miss Piggy. They were the nicest Muppets I have ever met. I even touched the hand of Walter, the new Muppet. It felt, er, felt-y.