I was searching on European itineraries when I came across this website which is a company that sells and buys cars. I went into the translated page and saw that the cars are all in pretty good condition, quality and of good models and branding too! For instance, a Mini Cooper there cost less than a Mini Cooper here! Hence, I have decided that if I am ever in Italy, I can look them up and see if I can rent a car or something.

Apparently, this car company has been in the business since 1978 and the staff pride themselves on the efficiency, competence and thoroughness. They really get to know their customers and they guarantee customer satisfaction. Sounds good!

I remember about a few years back when I was touring the United Kingdom, we rented a car from the airport, and even though the car was alright, somehow the engine did not run as smoothly as I expected. The car we took in Malta was worse - it was bumpy and jerky. If this Garade Del Parco guarantees satisfaction, then all the more there is no harm in getting a car from there!

It is hard to get a rental car especially when touring Europe. How many cars can really drive long distances? How many car companies can guarantee satisfaction? How many car companies can give you a trustworthy feel and at the same time make you feel like an honoured customer? If this company says and guarantees all these, then should really give it a try!

So, if you are looking for the following auto usate milano, vendita auto usate, or compro auto usate, do drop by Garage Del Parco whenever you are in the area!

I have half a mind to get a Mini Cooper myself, since it costs lesser than here! Perhaps I will just do that!

"15,000 First Dates" - the inaugural book by Violet of Lunch Actually, is a pretty informative and entertaining book on what men want in dating and relationships. Violet incorporated her few years of experience running the agency and the many kinds of clients she has met, to give a realistic, in-your-face view of how to ace the first date and let a man continue dating you.

Some of the tips brought up are :

1. What kind of women men like? Do men like the "dragon lady", the "fairytale princess" or the submissive kind of woman?

2. What kind of men to avoid? What is the difference between the "marrying" kind of man and the "player"?

3. The importance of first impressions, because men are generally visual creatures.

4. Should we manage our expectations and not stick to our criteria all the time?

5. How do we behave on the first date to create a good impression and make the man call you back?

This book is written by a woman for women. In case some of you may think it is discriminating, Violet will soon come up with a book targeted for men. It is a good read, especially for people like us who are not educated on how to behave on a date and how to maintain relationships. Violet's book is for anyone who is looking to find the right person to settle down with, and those who would like to start long-term relationships. It is entertaining and educational, not just for women but men alike.

The passing of a great and wonderful "Mother of our nation" is a great loss to the country. Not only was she a great woman, she was a great wife, great mother, great lawyer, and the one who supported her husband throughout his political career. In his words, he is "grateful to be able to find a woman who can be the sole breadwinner", so he can "concentrate on his political career". Maybe if he had married someone else, he would have "become a different person".

This is a woman I really look up to, besides my mother. She is smart, intellectual, capable, career woman, yet domesticated. Who is to say women cannot have it all? In fact, MM Lee himself was attracted to her simply because she was better than him. I remember his advise to people in the past, "Marry a woman who is your equal or better, so your children can be better." I agree with that!

Yet why is it men, in this modern times where women are getting more educated and there are much more career opportunities for women, still expect a woman to be "worse off"? As in, the woman cannot be higher educated, cannot be smarter, cannot be better, and cannot have her own opinions. Women have to contribute to the household, yet cannot be too career-minded, and have to take care of the family yet still listen to whatever the husband says at the same time.

What is wrong for a woman to be better than her partner? Does it mean to say that if she is higher educated, or more capable, or have a better career, or have her own views and opinions, she will automatically lord over her partner and control him for life? Who says a woman cannot be smart, educated, have a career, outspoken and opinionated and still able to raise a family at the same time? If any man cannot accept that, then I think the man himself is very insecure and have low self-esteem, that he cannot stand for his woman to be better than him. This is a sad and narrow view towards life and relationships.

Coming back, I give my greatest condolences to the PM's family, over the loss of his mother and to MM Lee, for the loss of the woman who has been by his side, who was his soul mate and his companion for sixty years. Rest In Peace, Mrs Lee. You will be deeply remembered and I will take you as an example to better myself to be the kind of woman I always inspire to be.

Time really flies. Soon it will be October. The first weekend of October is World Habitat Day. What is this year's World Habitat Day about? It is on the theme of "Better City, Better Life". Each year, there are millions of people in the world born in developing cities. These do not include migration from the poor slums to the cities. If this goes on, there will be insufficient decent housing in the cities and then this will result in overcrowding.

This year's World Habitat Day is to raise awareness of these people who live in the developing cities but may not have decent housing. What we can do is to advocate, fundraise and educate. To do your part, please go to the World Habitat website for more information. Hopefully by this, more people will spread the word and make this year's World Habitat Day a success!

Lately I had been having a bad case of writer's block. Haven't been writing much, and whatever I seemed to have written that is non-work related somehow does not make sense.

There comes a time when you sit back and examine where your life is going so far, what you intend to do, where you want to go. I must admit I am a tad bored with life. Sometimes you think you found your calling, but turns out it may not be the case. Sometimes you think you feel belonged, but turns out it is but an illusion.

The reason I write is because at times I just want to voice out. Since young, I have been writing in cute diaries, then went on to notebooks, and now, everything is online. The writing is the same, the mode is different. Maybe in cyberspace, it is for all and sundry to see, so perhaps there are things I should not blast or blab or "show off" or "broadcast".

But then again, that defeats my entire purpose of writing, is it not? Why do I write? It is a freedom of expression, it is to let out and rave, it is to see things from another angle. What really hurt me is that there are people whom I thought were my close friends, my confidantes, yet they were the first ones to judge me at the point when I was already feeling the lowest.

There was a time when I contemplated to stop writing. I thought to myself there was no point because I would only end up offending some people. Then I realise that I can never please everyone, so instead of dwelling on those who cannot even withstand a little test of "friendship", why not focus on those who actually feel inspired and like what I write? The important thing is to be true to myself, to my conscience.

Writing is my life. No doubt my life consists of a lot of things and everything else, but if I do not write, I feel as if a part of me is torn away. So like it or not, I will continue to write as long as my passion is still there.

The Fresh Air Fund is looking for help in terms of host families and donations. A generous donor has agreed to match every donation. For every $24, a round trip bus ticket can be purchased. So with the generous doner, we can get two tickets for two bus rides!

The Fresh Air Fund helps children to be put up at host families to get them to learn about the effects of fresh air. In this highly polluted world, it is a privilege to be able to have fresh air.

If you can help, it will be really great! The first batch of children are departing on 30 June. Those who would like to host would need to sign up by 28 June. It is a bit late notice but do consider the environment and the children!

I just came back from an intensive Cathechist Retreat. One of the sessions was on the difference between a volunteer and a disciple. In essence, a volunteer is one that does things because he / she expects something in return or to "show off". He / she only likes to do what he is interested in.

On the other hand, a disciple is one that does it for God. Even if no one likes what he is doing, even if he gets cursed at, he still continues because he knows it is for God and not for himself or anybody else.

This was really a very thought-provoking session. It made me reflect on the various ministries I have been involved in. How many people have we come across that are doing things for their own benefits but claimed they are doing for God? Sometimes there really is a grey area, is it not?

When we go out to work, there are all kinds of people around. We just have to adapt and get used to them. But in a church or religious organisation, should there not be less gossip? Should people behave more righteous and not bad-mouth others? Should people do things because it benefits the religion and not themselves?

So why do I still see cliques and politics around in church and religious organization? As far as I am concerned, whatever I do is for the religion. Hence I stay out of other's affairs and not bad mouth or gossip. But it makes me rather disillusioned that the very people in the religious organisation whom I thought I can belong to get cliquish and gossipy.

I know we are all humans. We are not perfect. We have our own flaws. But at times I wonder, if we are having the same purpose - serving God, then why so many politics? Why are there instances of people trying to show off and doing things for their own benefits?

Perhaps we should then question ourselves - are we mere volunteers or are we disciples?

I did it! I walked 5 km barefoot! It was a hard feat getting up early on a Saturday morning especially since I had a late night the night before. But I have promised myself and so we went to East Coast beach early on a Saturday morning.

The barefoot walk started around 8:15am. We removed our thongs (rather I removed my thongs and W removed his socks and shoes) and we started walking.

At first it was not too bad. Then the ground became harder and rougher. Then I impacted with a stone and cried out in pain. We walked about 2.5km, then made a U-turn and walked the remaining 2.5km.

Unfortunately, it started raining when we were walking back. We were caught in a bit of the rain. Still we continued until finally we reached the ending (starting) point again! Wow.. Footwear has never felt so good on me! I am never going to take my shoes for granted again!

I am never good at my studies. From primary to secondary and tertiary, my results had always been mediocre. If not for my mum, I would have left school after secondary. It was my mum who insisted I have some form of tertiary education. Even then, my results were never good and there were times when I almost flunked out of school.

Ironically, after working for a while, I want to go back to school. It is only when I started working that I realise how important a good education is. I guess I have been pretty lucky to have the kind of job opportunities despite my kind of education and results. But I do not intend to be stagnated.

Going back to school is one of the best decisions I have ever made. My only regret is that I did not do it earlier. If only I had started my course earlier, perhaps I would not be so tired everyday. The older one gets, the less energy one has to cope with a full-time job and part-time studies.

But I do not regret doing it. Even though it was a stressful process studying for exams for the past month, still I want to continue. Life is all about learning and upgrading, and I plan to achieve as much as I can!

Come June, I will be taking part in the Bare Your Sole charity walk. For those of you who would like to know what this is all about, this is an event where people walk barefoot for five kilometres to raise money and awareness for children living in the slum areas of many parts of the Asia Pacific region. Because these children have nothing to wear on their feet, they have to walk barefooted and are often exposed to the dangers of broken glass and infected syringes.

Thus, do think of these poor children and contribute if you can, by pledging for me, and help Habitat for Humanity Singapore to fulfil its mission, using my serial number - 10431.

If you can, do come along for the walk at East Coast Park on 5th June, and join me in Baring Your So(u)le!

Thank you so very much!