3D & colors.

After confirming with the contractor my elevation plans for the living, wardrobes and kitchen, he proceeded on with the 3D.

Very simple 3D pictures, I would say. But 一分钱，一分货。 I think the 3D drawings are good enough for me. I am not really a artistic person, neither can I visualise the whole picture in my mind, so most of the time, I leave it to the contractor to recommend, and MrGoh to decide because MrGoh has got better sense of art & colors.

After spending about 3hours at the contractor's office, we are finally done with deciding the wall & carpentry colors. Will wait for the revision of the 3D drawings with the colors we have chosen.

Meanwhile, the contractor says he will start painting the ceiling.

However, I got him to hold for the 2 common rooms cos I am still deciding between the combi-light or individual light points for the normal day light and night light.
[We went to this shop that sells a combination of the normal daylight and LED night light. But I am quite skeptical if I should use those. Will shop around and decide on the lights this weekend.]

Also, I am getting him to redraw the internal configuration of the master wardrobe. When all else is done, we will proceed to the painting and carpentry works. :)
Rescheduled all the deliveries to a later date when the whole house is done. To prevent loss/theft or damage. :p

Sigh~ the contractor just called me this morning, asked me if I can top-up for my TV cabinet. Well, this requirement was added in after signing the contract and no choice to agree to the top-up. I foresee the budget will burst at the end of our renovation. :(

Super busy weekend this Sat&Sun. Need to go inspect my house & check on the progress. Need to go shop for lightings. Need to go for mummy's early-birthday celebration dinner. :x

Little episode of the house. My contractor called earlier and said there is no water. I remember signing up for Giro and the fees have been paid. So he got me to find out the relevant authority's number and give them a call since he has no access to internet. So I called and logged a case. The plumber/technician just called (quite efficient I would say, better than the Corporate Singtel service). Being at work, I diverted him to my contractor. I hope he's still there at my place and can help me liaise with him.
Will find out more on this from my contractor later. :)

p/s:Just as I was about to end this entry, the PUB called and said the big pipe from our block that is connected to the storage tank is closed and they will inform the Town Council on this and get the Town Council people to call me.

big ticket items.

Today, the contractor bought us to light shopping.

As usual (due to time constraints and MrGoh's shopping habits), we only went to one lighting shop but I didn't buy the stuff there. Only got the quote and I shall spent one more weekend to look around.

Since we were around the corner, I got him to drive us to circuit road to get the electrical appliances. The cheapest I have found so far. I am really happy that I went cos the prices were much lower than the initial quote (as promised by the co-owner). So there, I confirmed the big ticket items like the hob&hood, fridge, washing machine, microwave oven, garment steamer, water heater and the KDK fans.

Then we moved on to Sim Siang Choon(SSC) at Changi [since we were on the way to Expo. Still, I didn't managed to visit the much raved Royal Fanco along Balestier Rd/Jalan Besar :(] and we decided that we shall get all the toilet accessories there. I know it's definitely not the cheapest and my contractor will probably earn some kopi-money (cos I noticed he wrote his company name on the invoice) from our purchase but well, I take it as an compensation for his car-fuel to drive us around and the lunch he bought us. And the kopi-money is only my assumption, I could be wrong anyway. Also, I think the stuff are pretty much the same, just the range and price. I just hope the price difference won't be a lot and worth the time-in-exchange for it. :x

Then we went to the Expo's Electronics fair. The agenda was to get the TV. I totally let MrGoh call the shot in buying the TV because I am not so particular about it plus I pretty much made the decisions to buy the hob&hood, fridge, washing machine, microwave oven, garment steamer and water heater without discussion with him. I sensed he's pretty upset with me deciding on the same fridge model his mom is using as he did mention before he doesn't want that. But it's really no choice because for Mitsubishi fridges, the better one is this model and it was also one of the more popular models as recommended by the seller.

Anyway, we bought the TV without much knowledge of what it can do. I was pretty much upset about it and MrGoh could sense it. So we made a trip to the nearby Changi City Point(CCP)'s Gain City to learn more about the product. I felt better after listening to the salesman's introduction on it though Gain City has got better service and probably better offer if we were to get the TV together as a bundle. Then MrGoh also decided to buy the Bluray player and sound system which set us back by five hundred plus.

Had our dinner and then home sweet home. CCP is really a big place for me which we didn't really have the time&energy to shop around, so I think I'll be back again! :)

Have already decided on my elevation and will be seeing the 3D drawings early next week. No more works until we confirm the 3D. Will be looking forward.

side note; After we paid for the TV at the fair (then I knew the seller was Audio House), we passed by the display area again wanting to ask the sales guy about its function, the next thing we noticed the display set was gone! I thought they are selling us the display set. Double confirmed with the guys there and they say it's a new piece we are buying. Fingers-crossed and hopefully so. I mean it's really doubtful that the moment you bought the item, and the next, its display set is gone. I don't want to pay so much for a display set and I hope it better not be! :(

p/s: just today alone, we spent over 7.5k plus. If we bought the lightings, it would be coming to almost 10k plus of spendings. I am just glad I didn't decide to buy the lights yet. ;p So next on the list is to buy the lights, vacuum cleaner, towel racks (which I didn't get at SSC).

1st setback.

Because of the Sink saga, I decided to pay the house a visit last evening.

To my surprise, the bases for the fridge, cabinets and washing machines are up already. A call earlier to my contractor confirms the bases are done. OMG, my heart broke. Because the tiling works are so ugly!

The contractor told me about the factors influencing his decision to have the rounded PVC coverings. He further added that I can still have it my way but I must pay for the tiles. 26 pieces of tiles at $4 each. Because I am not convinced, he say he will explain in detail to me when he sees me again.

In my opinion, I feel that he didn't let know to me the variuand discuss with me on my preferred method. Why should I bear the cost... if I really want it my way? Well, I shall see how again. :x

the kitchen. [Updated]

Bought the Zojirushi electrical air-pot at the Takashimaya sale on Sunday.
I like the 5L paranorma version that my family is using but considering that we are a small family, I think 3L is good enough for us. Moreover, due to the smaller capacity, it won't consume as much energy as the 5L one. So there we go, getting the 3L Zojirushi Micom Electric Airpot CJ-JUQ30 at $199 (UP $350).

Since there's sale, I decided to get the thermal food jar. I thought, it might just come in handy in future. :)

Then yesterday, we got another big item which I hope is going to last forever and ever -- the Kitchen Sink (Kohler Rhine Series 2035F Topmount Kitchen Sink)

One love and hate thing about shopping with MrGoh. I like his company but I hate his impatience. So we got the sink after visiting the 3rd store. Pretty fast and unexpected.

The salesperson told me the sink is of 304grade stainless steel and is made in Korea. Refused to give further discount and freebies.

But after a check online today, I realised the sink is made in China. And if you buy the Chinese website Taobao, it comes in a package with chopping board, drain baskets, etc, at almost the same price I am paying now, inclusive of shipping fees. :( Okay, given now I don't have the luxury of time to wait for the sink to be shipped here so I just treat it as paying a premium for the time saved.

I am okay if the item is made in China, but I would like the salesperson to be honest with me. An online review on the shop states that the salespeople in this shop is rather dishonest. double :(.

Further search shows that there is another shop selling the same sink in Geylang. Cannot resist, called and asked the price. It's selling $4 cheaper (before bargain). I am sure and have heard that this shop offers a better price when you are there in person. Triple :(.

Well well well, lesson learnt. Now I can only hope the delivery goes smoothly and the item is in good working condition. Because we requested for the delivery today, I hope it's not the display piece that we are taking. :x *fingers crossed*

Updates:
I called the Geylang shop again, to enquire on the sink's country of origin. The person says it's made in Taiwan. My contractor says there's no MIT sinks, only MIC (made in China). Double confirms the salesperson who sold me the sink is not honest! :(
Not only this, I asked the price again, this time the lady offered ~$50 cheaper than the first time I called. I almost fainted. we overpaid for the sink!

Nevermind. Then the delivery episode.
Around 4plus, my contractor texted me saying the delivery guy is not there yet! I called the shop and the guy whom sold me the sink (Mr Y) said he will check and call me back. I called back again ten minutes later (given my reception is faulty, he might have called but couldn't get through) and Mr Y told me their guy had the sink delivered!
I called my contractor and he say he will check. Turns out the delivery guy just left the sink in the bomb shelter and left, so no one knew he came!
First, I am puzzled cos my contractor said he will check with the aircon guys if the delivery man is here. Meaning he is not around to receive the goods!? Secondly, I am not really sure if his guys were around to inspect and receive the sink or did he just depend on the Aircon guys to receive the sink or was he also asking the aircon guy if they had seen the delivery man in case his guy missed it?!?! Puzzled.

So I told him, must help me to inspect the sink and let me know if there's any defect cos the shop didn't have a good review.
Then I called Mr Y again and told him of the situation. He acknowledged and told me anything just go back to him. I really 放心不下 and told MrGoh that I am going to the new place to take a look after work. :(

Sigh~

our first bill via post

Went to the our new place earlier to do some inspection as well as pass the electrical drawings to my renovator's electrician.
Finally renovation has started! :) {Actually, I think my renovator started on Thursday/Friday with laying the protection coverings and today, they are doing the electrical works.}

At this moment, we are going through the elevation plans for the kitchen, living, shoe cabinet and bedrooms. Once this is done, we'll proceed for the 3D drawings. I can't wait! :x

Went to check the mailbox and there we have, our first SP Services bill. :)
It has some funny entries for waste charges, etc... which I don't even know what are they for... need to go check it out soon. :)

Actually the first official bill we paid was the conservancy fees. Because I didn't apply for GIRO deduction in time, so I went to the Town council on Tuesday to pay up the fees till June. :)

自己。

他的好永远都不会足够，对我而言只是一种补偿。

What's broken will always leave a scar.
Time will heal but scar remains.

It will never be the same again.
Why did everything have to happen?
I blame no one but myself.

Our Renovator!

We have finally decided on our renovator!

Okie, here's a personal review on all the renovators I have contacted. We have decided our renovator by the elimination method and based on the following criteria:
- Chemistry
- Budget
- Quality

I actually contacted a total of 12 IDs/Contactors and got 4-5 more contacts whom I would contact them if all else fails.

1. X*rx*s I D*sign / Mr K.
• We met this guy at the Expo fair. Through the forums, I learned that it is discouraged to sign during the fair so we left my contact number after a 1+hours talk with this guy. After doing some online research, I learned their sales tactic and some not-so-favourable reviews. Still MrGoh & I met up with this guy once. The quote was on the high side (unlike the figure he mentioned during the fair). We dropped him due to the high quote & not-so-positive online review. 
• Afternote: His boss emailed me saying the company has terminated his employment.
2. Mr J.
• Got his contact through one of my girlfriends. Heard that he does interior design for high-end residential properties so I didn't have much hope that he would quote within my budget. Still, I went ahead to get some inspirations. It was also with this little expectation that I have of him, such that I didn't really feel disappointed when he took too long to get back to me on the layout plan and with no quotation.
3. Artr*nd / Ms Z.
• This ID firm was shortlisted for RFQ because they own their carpentry factory. And I thought this would indirectly bring down the carpentry charges. However, I was so wrong, the price is still on the high side. Coincidentally, when I casually told my ex-insurance agent, he said his sister is working in Artr*nd. So this is how I got to know this young lady. She graduated from a Design school and is really the designer type. What impresses me is she produces hand-drawn 3Ds on our 2nd meet up (1st meet up is to gather our requirements), which I have not seen anyone doing it, even up till now. Again, I have to drop her because of budget issues. Otherwise, I would recommended her for her design ideas.
4. ID Not* / Mr H. & Mr T.
• I got this contact via the R*notalk forum. It's a contractor firm. I would say the initial quote is very attractive, even the revised quote (after site survey) is competitive. I have spoke to Mr H on the phone twice and he sounds quite okie. However, he wasn't present during the site survey. It was Mr T who came. And we feel that we couldn't quite click with Mr T. Not that Mr T is no good but chemistry is quite subjective. :x
5. Summit D*sign / Mr W
• I specifically asked for this ID after reading reviews from the r*notalk. Initially I have arranged to meet him on a Saturday. However, he was in JB when we were at his office/showroom. When we contacted him, he insisted I remembered the wrong dates. Decided to drop him because if he can forget (to rearrange) our appointment, then what happens if we hand him the whole house for renovation? However, he did a follow up and furnished a quote. Conveniently he also brush off the whole incident with an apology. Seeing that the quote was okay, I arranged for a meet up again. Finally met with him. Didn't like his attitude when I told him I was on budget, he simply cancel off the carpentry works using his correction tape and said: "oh, if you don't want, can remove want. cos you ask for quote mah, must give you some design. all these can take out if you have budget." I was like ?!?! Then when I asked how frequent would he be at the site, he replied: "you can't expect me to be there everyday, every hour to supervise, I have other projects to run also, yours is a new BTO and no hacking so is quite ok, no need so frequent" I was like WTF is this answer! I am not expecting you to be there everyday, every hour. Just want to know how frequent, that's all. Why are you giving such replies? Even before I step out of his office, I dropped him.
6. Northw*st / Mr L
• Got this contact through my MIL's friend. I never like approaching big firms like this because I am sure their price is a bit marked up to 'pay' for their advertising cost. However this guy gave me good vibes. I feel he's kind of sincere. But the quoted price was way over my initial budget. He was nice enough to offer to absorb the GST for me but still, even after that, it was over. I knew it was a matter of price.
7. Id*pt D*sign / Mr A.
• Again, I got this contact through the forum. He left me a good impression during our 1st meet up. The price is also okay. But the only thing is, he's really slow in revising the quotes. You will need to remind him before you can get the changes reflected.
8. Ori*ntal / Mr D.
• I got this contact from BLUM where I was at the BLUM showroom. They specialise in doing just the kitchen using BLUM system. Nice uncle to converse with. However, just the kitchen alone. My god. Price is jaw drop.
9. Mr K.
• Another contractor from the forum contacts who uses Blum. The price is very good but his firm is not HDB-registered. Although there are a handful using him in the forum but I am just not comfortable with the idea.
10. Plush Living / Mr D.
• Actually by the time I RFQ-ed from PL, I have already my layout in mind and 40% shortlisted the ONE but I still asked him for quote cos I see that their price quite okay. Contacted the boss but he passed my case over to his employee Mr J. This Mr J last minute postponed my appt by saying he has diarrhea. Oh well. We re-arrange and met up eventually. The price is so-so but I really cannot stand Mr J's presentation style/character. When I asked him something, he beats around the bush before getting to the point. And when I casually how long he has been in this industry, he tells me this:"I have been in this industry for X years, but only Y years in this company. The previous company not so good...blah blah blah" He went as far as saying work environment is important that's why he needed to leave his ex-company and his current company got a sales quota system that he needs to hit. I was like...okay, why are you telling me all these? So no chemistry.

The last one I met was MrGoh's distant relative. A very nice guy but my concern is, because is relative, if later got any dispute, hard to face each other in future. Otherwise, his quote also competitive.

Oh, I almost forgot about the contractor I met at my void deck. As usual, there will be contractors loitering around the void decks soliciting for business. And out of curiosity on their offer price, my dad went to ask for a quote. They even brought us to view their currently under reno projects. Right from the beginning, I don't really have good vibes with these uncles and uncles soliciting business some more! Their carpentry workmanship also not fantastic and I don't fancy the idea of the contractor bringing strangers to view the flat without prior communication. Imagine, if I were to let them renovate my place, and they bring potential customers up to view my place as a 'sample', then my flat will become a showflat? Finally we got to the quotation discussion stage and they 露出狐狸尾巴了. They can provide a few thousand dollars worth of FOC but the carpentry quality is $95 quality. If I want the $120 quality, sorry, those FOC, they would need to relook at it. :( If we didn't asked about the authenticity of the quote price vs quality, he would just keep quiet). :O

So based on the above 3 criteria and in between meeting all the other renovators, I arranged to view one of the completed project my 'shortlisted' renovator has done. Not too bad. Subsequently, after a few rounds of meet-ups, email & sms correspondences, we have finally sign on the dotted line with him on the today!

Hope everything goes smoothly.

Ethan's tooth chart.

As I was posting on Ethan's tooth growing progress, I simply decided to google for a baby tooth chart & put in Ethan's progress.
I cannot remember which site I got the chart from but yea, if you are the owner, please let me know and I will credit you.

Ethan's 5th & 6th tooth.

Actually I saw the budding teeth some ten days ago but it wasn't very obvious. But now, we can all see the teeth cutting through the gums. :)

And because he's teething, he has been drooling alot. :D...

Aside, Baby E is developing well, except for occassional milk-rejection.
He prefers solid/adult food to milk.

heart broken.

I don't know what was being said to you.
But my heart broke when you accused me of badmouthing you.

So to you, I am such a person.

You asked, What do I want?..
Now, my reply to you: Don't you already know? I thought I told you on that 'last' Saturday? Think about it. The answer is obvious.

And in return I ask you. What do I mean to you?
Be honest to me and most importantly, to yourself. Please. I always plead for this answer. Be fair to everyone.
If you are not honest, then you make everyone, including yourself miserable. :x