A Photo Journey thru 2006

The new 2007 calendars are out in Borders. How time flies...

Late last year, i was searching for the perfect calendar for my work desk. A doggie one? a french-word-a-day one? an island resort one? travel destinations? cartoons? I am a perfectionist. All those that i saw were just not it. They weren't special enough.

Bernard knew that i was looking for a nice calendar. One day, we were out shopping along Orchard Road. I wanted to go into Borders (again) to check out the 2006 calendars. He seemed disinterested, and complained that he was tired. He suggested that we go home and rest, and buy the calendars another day. I was so disappointed.

Later on, when we were having dinner on my birthday, he placed a calendar on the restaurant table and waited (quite long, as i said, i'm very blur) for me to notice it. When i finally picked it up and examined it, i realized that he'd taken the beautiful scenery shots of our New Zealand holiday and made them into a calendar for me! I was so touched... it is the perfect calendar.

He reminded me of that day he didn't want to go into Borders with me. Telling me he was tired was just an excuse for preventing me from buying a calendar, cos he already planned to make that one for me. He told me that seeing me look so disappointed upset him a lot, "you know me, i would never be like that. i'll always have something planned for you.."

There was even a meaning for the photos he chose for each month.

This picture taken during our hot-air balloon ride represented "a new beginning"

He meant for this to be like an oasis in the middle of the year... when i flipped to it in May, it reminded me that he had gone to paradise...

To me, this picture seemed so apt, that i was taking off into the unknown...
We waited very long to capture this moment! He didn't want to make me wait, but i wanted to, cos i knew he loved to take such artistic shots.

A lovely sunset for the end of the year, he said.
Last year, he had used this photo to make postcards for his colleagues during Christmas. That was really sweet, wasn't it?

A calendar full of love to accompany me as i journey thru 2006, the year that changed my life.

In Dec 2005, he sent me a bouquet of flowers at work, for a beautiful 2006 ahead.....

I love you for who you are...

Today is my last day in Citi. How did it come to this?

I think i had done well, and had planned to develop my career there. Bernard and i had discussed our career plans, and he always encouraged me thru all the tough times at work, telling me how proud he was of me, and keeping me driven yet sane.

It was very sad to be really leaving. Perhaps because it is my first job, or 'cos i made so many dear frens there... or perhaps cos that's where i met Bernard.


A picture of us taken during Dinner & Dance 2005


Having dinner after work
I was writing thank you notes last night, and i thot, how abt putting in some nice quotes that i like? I have a little Muji notebook where i jotted down a few of my fave quotes. I randomly flipped to the middle of the notebook, where it was still blank, and saw a note written by Bernard.

He wrote,
"I love you for who you were, who you are... and who you will be.... love, Bernard"
And i wrote below,
"I love you not only for who you are, but who i am when i am with you.... love, Grace"

I was stunned.
Cos i'd forgotten that it's there, and even when we wrote it. It was the most indescribable bitter-sweet feeling.

Teeing Off

"At some point, she would have to finish her round without me"
- Chasing Daylight, Gene O'Kelly

This is the first sport we learnt together, without realizing at first.


We both took up the corporate offer for elementary lessons at Marina South. His classes were on Mondays, mine on Thursdays.

One day, i found some excuse to attend his class, in anticipation that i'd be missing mine ;) He had learnt some basics before, so he came over to coach me personally. A bit shy, cos there were other colleagues around...

In the following weeks, he'd fetch me from my classes, and i'd fetch him from his, and we'd go for supper. The time spent together was never enough, and we'd linger on in the car park outside his/my home and chat for ages before parting.




We loved checking out golf stuff, especially clothes (we're both rather hiao~) He loves the dri-fit, turtleneck-type of t-shirts. We even bought matching tees and sunshades... hee...

Golf is a sport that requires much practice. I borrowed from several frens to practise, and to take the PC test. It is difficult to practise and be consistent without your own clubs. Knowing that i'm not comfortable forking out such a big sum of money for a set of clubs (he's generous with me, but it's not something i'd allow him to buy for me), he brought me shopping, bought me a new set of golf clubs, and told me to pay him back in instalments and to take as long as i need. I was very touched, cos that to me is a form of commitment...

Golf is a sport that we spent time encouraging each other to improve on. We'd watch each other's strokes, and help to correct each other. He also taught me (according to one of his customers), that one way to keep those jutting elbows in was to tuck a towel under the arm and not allow it to drop during the swing.

It is through learning golf with Bernard that i learnt the value of compliments. He compliments me all the time, proudly saying "nice shot!" whenever i manage a decent enough swing. When i missed, he'd smile at me and encourage me to continue, and assure me that it's ok (i'm a perfectionist). From that, i realized how powerful simple praise can be, and learnt to always compliment. From simply looking good in a new shirt to exceeding sales targets at work, i would tell him so, and remind him how proud i am of him - a filial son, loving brother, caring fren, and gentle lover.

This is one of the most important lessons he taught me - How to love, and show love.

Because You Loved Me

To my baby...
Last night when i cried, and missed you so painfully, i heard this well-loved song over the radio...
I want to dedicate it to you...
-------------------------------------------------------

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through, through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me