There are a lot of choices to buy furniture in Singapore. Apart from the usual modern furniture, you can buy ready-made or custom-made rattan and oriental furniture. If you decide to buy Oriental furniture, be aware that their size and design may not be suitable once you are repatriated. A nice antique Chinese bed is not only difficult to transport but may look awkward in your living room at home in London, as nothing else will fit in! Besides, this furniture is made for use in a different climate and may shrink, expand and crack. Also, before shipping back your furniture you should have it fumigated!
Antiques and Reproductions
Before you start, you need to decide if you want to decorate your home, take back some memories or seriously collect specific items as an investment into the future. The term antique is used for a variety of items offered and you need to inform yourself first about the host and home countries’ regulations and custom requirements such as import and export restrictions on religious artifacts (e.g. Buddha statues).
Custom-Made Furniture
To avoid confusion and disappointment, provide a sample or a photograph and specify your requirements in writing:
Oriental Furniture
There are many different types depending on the country of origin, style or material used. Furniture made in India or Indonesia is often produced in small villages and come with a native touch rather than being in an immaculate condition, which is very exotic. Chinese furniture come in rosewood, camphor, lacquer, coromandel, teak, Elmwood and many other woods and may be antique, a reproduction or modern. Custom-made furniture should be seasoned or kiln-dried to avoid shrinking in a dry environment. To allow the wood to expand furniture should be produced with tongue-and groove- floating panels.
Teak Furniture
The Latin name for Teak is Tectona grandis, which is offered all over Southeast Asia. Teak is an extremely dense, coarse-grained hardwood, which is well known for its durability and resistance to water, the woodworm and many chemical agents. Today, there are teakwood plantations catering to the furniture industry.
When purchasing Teak furniture:
Oriental Carpets
Beds and Mattresses
Sizes of beds and mattresses are different form those in Europe, Australia and the US, that may imply difficulties buying suitable bed sheets when in Asia or back home. Some shops offer imported brand name beds in standard lengths but oversized beds are difficult to find. Southeast Asian beds are usually shorter and sometimes narrower. Sometimes mattresses in US sizes can be ordered for an additional charge. Never buy bed sheets or linen unless you have measured your bed before.
Electrical Appliances/Computers/Accessories
Archive for the ‘Home and Environment’ Category
How to Furnish Your Rental Home in Singapore
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010Your Home Based Business Can Be A Real Time Trap
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010The reasons people express for wanting to work from home are
many and varied, but most home based business owners cite the
ability to set their own hours as a major factor in their
decision to work at home. However, many people that have work at
home businesses often fall into a trap that flies directly in
the face of their stated desire for time flexibility.
The strong growth in home based business activity continues and,
according to the Small Business Administration’s Office of
Advocacy, fifty-two percent of ALL small businesses are
home-based.
Some home based business owners have been known to become
“workaholics” because their office is so accessible. Don’t
become a slave to your business…get out of your home office
regularly to renew and revitalize yourself.
Close the door to your office or otherwise remove yourself from
your designated “work area” and go into your “home” area to live
your personal life. If your business involves the use of the
telephone and you find it difficult to ignore a ringing phone in
the office, simply turn the ringer off and turn the volume on
the answering machine way down. If your business is internet
based, just turn off your computer (or at least get away from
the monitor and keyboard).
As a work at home business entrepreneur, you certainly aren’t
required to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week just
because your business is located in your home. After all, your
office or workspace is just an area in your home…its not your
home itself!
Working and living under the same roof has a host of
advantages, but it can present some challenges (in addition to
the workaholic syndrome mentioned, above) and stress factors.
Here are four ways to create a less stressful home business
environment:
-Remember why you wanted to become involved with a home-based
business (i.e. more time for family, work schedule flexibility,
etc.)
-Have discussions with your family members and get their input
about the working arrangements and the amount of time they want
with you.
-Use good time management techniques. Keep a list of tasks by
order of importance. There are many low cost and effective “day
planners” or “organizers” readily available today.
-ALWAYS take a little time to “smell the roses”.
While not experiencing the negatives common to a corporate
office working environment, the home-based business owner may
occasionally experience stresses and frustrations that are
unique to working at home. Networking with other home-based and
small business owners provides an opportunity to connect with
others who may be experiencing the same stresses/frustrations
that you are. Sharing stressful and/or frustrating issues with
someone else in the same situation can relieve your stress and
may bring you good advice from a different point of view.
As a final note, remember to observe Home-Based Business Week
each year (it is always the week of October that includes the
second Tuesday)
Home Schooling…a Quiet Revolution
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010In the last 30 years or so, a quiet revolution has begun, and it’s changing the way people look at the compulsory nature of school forever. What started out in the 60′s as a radical choice made mostly by parents concerned about the lack of religious teaching in public schools has evolved into something spectacular…something so perfect that it seems intimidating. And it’s available to any family willing to make the change.
So often, when people find out that my kids do not go to school, I get responses like ” Oh, I could NEVER do that. I’m not smart enough.” or “I don’t think I could stand being with my kids all day every day.” and “You must be really disciplined.” Truth is, I don’t have a college degree, but I am absolutely ‘smart enough’ to be a home schooling parent, and I have every right to do so. I don’t necessarily consider myself a disciplined person, either, and that is just one of the multitude or reasons why home schooling is a perfect match for our family.
There are many reasons why a family might choose home schooling over public or private school. A child may have an illness or disability for which public school cannot provide proper care. Of course, public schools try hard to be politically correct, and will do what they can to assist any children with difficulties, but it’s hard enough for one adult teacher to watch over and effectively control a class of 25 ‘normally functioning’ students, much less having one or two kids thrown in who have very special medical and physical needs.
I can think of no environment more nurturing, more secure and loving, especially for a physically ill or disabled child, than the comfort and familiarity of their own home and attentive parents. After all, who understands a child’s needs better than an attentive parent?
Home schooling is perfect for Moms like me who work from home. It gives flexibility and plenty of time to spend with the amazing individual minds that society calls my children.
Perhaps the child has been labeled ADHD and put on medication. These narcotics subdue the active child, effectively enabling him to sit still longer and to ‘pay attention‘ to what the teacher deems important…a necessary requirement in school. Home schooling, however, imposes no such limitations. If your child needs to bounce, to talk, to run or even to roll, these things can be allowed and even encouraged in a home schooling environment.
The negative and long lasting effects of the commonly prescribed drugs are now coming to light. Concerned parents are becoming more skeptical of physicians quick fix diagnoses and the schools insistence that such things are required to keep the classroom ‘functioning‘….especially when it involves their own children.
Perhaps the child just doesn’t excel in school, has discipline problems or just plain ‘hates’ it. Why make them do something they hate every day? Why not give them the joy that comes along with being free to learn on their own time and focus on what interests them?
No matter what the reason a home schooling parent gives for taking their child out of school, one thing is certain. Home schooling is growing in popularity to the point where almost everyone knows someone who is or was home schooled. It may be a quiet revolution, but it’s voice is growing louder year by year.