Special Needs Trust

I've delayed long enough... Deceived myself long enough... putting on high hopes but it doesn't seem to be happening. Trying to accept the truth and plan for her future.

Over the weekends, hus and i went for a financial talk for Special Needs Kids by Special Needs Trust Center, a non-profit trust company in Singapore set up to provide trust services for the benefit of persons with special needs. SNTC is jointly supported by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and National Council of Social Service (NCSS). SNTC partners with Insolvency and Public Trustee Office to manage trusts’assets.

During the talk, the speaker highlighted the need for such trust by citing two real life examples. In the two examples given, when the parents of special needs person passed on leaving them a sum of money. With the temptation of cash on hand, the guardian/caretaker had misused and squander away the money instead for the special needs person. Even if that does not happen, would these trustees have the time and expertise to ensure these assets are spent wisely by the the special needs person deputy?

The process of setting up a trust:
Book an appointment with the case manager (social worker) to work our a care plan - is like a financial plan with projection of the amount of money needed for the special needs person living expenditure after settlor (The person who set up the trust - usually would be the parents) had passed on. Settlor would have to draw letter of intent as to how the money is to disbursed. The care plan and letter of intent will be reviewed annually to ensure the projections are on track and update any new expenditures for the special needs person. Once the settlor dies or capacities disabled, the trustee would work with the guardian/deputy to disburse the money in accordance to the letter of Intent.

The setup fee for the trust is $1,500. Annual trustee fee is $250 per year. When the settlor dies, the fee is $400 per year. The minimum trust fund size is $5000 and each top up is minimum of $500 on monthly/annually/quarterly/ahhoc basis. The trust assets are invested with the Insolvency and Public Trustee Office earning an interest declared annually. For 2009, 2010 and 2011, the interests were 3.46%, 3.52% and 2.82% respectively. These assets are guaranteed by the Singapore government. The trust is irrevocable and hence will be protected from the creditors and bankruptcy of the settlor, so the special needs person can be assured that the assets set aside will be there for her regardless of the settlor’s financial situation.

P/S: Terms and conditions: 1. The beneficiary must be a special needs person. 2. the beneficiary must be Singaporean/Singapore PR. 3. the beneficiary must be located in Singapore to be provided by Singapore Acts.

During the break time, i talked to a parents who was discusing about the trust. The mommy told me that she will sign up for one for her special needs kid. She had been very worried the financial especially when she is gone. She had approached many insurance company and none had accepted her child condition. Very sad but this is true.

After the talk, i strongly recommend those who has a special needs person in the family to sign up for a special needs trust to ensure the money you left behind after you are gone are well spent on your love ones who are in special needs. We have booked an appointment next week with a case manager to setup a trust for Janelle. She is who she is, we have to accept it and plan for her. If one day miracle happens, she still can use this money for things that she wants to do at that time. no harm. isn't it?

My first home-made mooncake

Mooncake are the highlight of chinese's annual mid-autumn moon festival. I love mooncakes... Remembered the days when i'm at Taka selling mooncakes, almost everyday i had mooncakes from the competitors before i start my store. Never feel sick of it.

About two weeks before 2011 mid-atumn, was thinking why dont i made my own mooncake.. It would be nice. Hus very into it, brought me to nearest phoon huat to get the ingradients and took care janelle when i'm in the kitchen figuring out the recipe.


I got my receipt from http://wlteef.blogspot.com/2005/08/baked-mini-mooncakes.html
and modified a bit as i have no kitchen weight scale.

Ingredient:
100g plain flour -- 1.6cup
30g peanut oil -- 0.26cup
65g golden syrup (Abram Lyles) -- 0.39 cup
1/2 tsp alkaline water

Filling:
180g lotus seed pastesalted
egg yolks (optional)
roasted melon seeds (optional)

Egg glace:
1 yolk + 1 tsp water lightly beaten and strain

Method:

1. Mix peanut oil, golden syrup and alkaline water together in a big cup and sit this cup in a bowl of boiling water. Stir till mixture is well combine. Remove and leave aside to cool till warm state but not cold.
   
   
2. Sieve plain flour into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour and pour in the warm syrup. Mix till a dough is formed. Cover the mixing bowl with a wet towel and rest the dough for 30 - 45 minutes.




3. Divide dough and filling according to the size of your mould. Shape the dough into a round flat sheet with sides thinner than the centre.
   
   
   
4. Wrap in the filling and mould it into a ball shape. Coat it with flour.
   
   
   
5. Dredge wooden mooncake mould with flour and put the mooncake into the mould. Flatten it with your floured palms and make sure that the mooncake fills up the mould nicely.
   
   
   
6. To dislodge the mooncake, bang the mould on a hard surface with equal force in the north, south, east and west direction.
   
   
   
   
7. Place mooncakes on a lined pan and spray the mooncakes with some water. Bake at 180C - 190C for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, cool the cakes for 5 - 10 minutes then apply egg glace and bake for another 10 - 15 minutes or till golden brown. As every oven varies, please standby to check on your mooncakes. If you are doing standard size mooncakes, the baking time might be longer.
   
   
   
8. Store cooled mooncakes in an airtight container and serve only after 3 days.
   
   

Janelle's new hairstyle

When mommy is away, daddy brought her to salon and cut short short.. Now no more cute le...










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Travellodge - Korea

Specially a trip to Korea to meet up future in law. Thanks god, the metup was a good one. Grad that the in laws are very please with my brother....

Of cos, in Korea, never forget about masks





:) more updates to come..

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*Envy*

If Janelle is on her milestone, i will be expecting these from her is it?

She: Let's go Mac
Dad: Mac is not good. (for health).
She: But the nugget is very good.

or the very least

Mummy: Abi tell Da Jiu Jiu where you go ytd..
She: ok (looking at Da Jiu Jiu)
playground, slide, scare, fall down, bom!
Mummy & Da Jiu Jiu : -_-""

Now Janelle is 3, and am still waiting for a "Mommy" from her..

Naruko - new skincare I tried!

If you watched 女人我最大, you will be very familiar with 牛儿老师 who always demo products that works like magic and make me always wanted to own the products. But have no idea what's the brand they are using and doesn't seems to be found in Singapore (At least to me, who only do shopping in supermarket these year) . From Eling's recent blog, come to know that Naruko is the brand. http://www.naruko.com.sg/. Naruko means: "Love yourself" in Japanese. This brand is founded by a famous dermatologist in Taiwan, Niu'er (牛儿老师). Naruko is a very new brand that came out last year, it features gentle, simple and effective skincare targeting the younger age group (18-30 yrs olds), of course, you don't have to be in this age group to use these products.

After i started to work from home, without aircon and having strong UV ray harming my skin. My skin had turned very bad and oily. And from 女人我最大, i had shortlisted couple of items that i wanted to try for better oil control. I placed my order on Friday and i received the items on the 4th day - Tuesday morning (not as stated on their website within 3 days).

1. 【24小时】油脂平衡精华素
[Yvonne's Review] I tried using it for one day yesterday, it does help to reduce the oil on my face through out the day. When i tried using the oil control film at the end of the day, very minimum oil was absorbed. Not as they mentioned that 100% no oil can be absorbed. But at least it helps.


2. 茶树超油切净化洁肤泥
[Yvonne's Review] I like this product... it gives me a clean and refresh feels with mild cooling.
3. 茶树超油切净化晚安冻膜
[Yvonne's Review] I put on this Gelly and went to bed yesterday night, wake up with my skin feels not much of a different. hmm, i have tried product that's gives me a better result. So a comparasion will kick in. I rate it as so-so only.


* The review was based on Day 1. Will continue to try for a month and do another review.

Books

Mommy is not a person who likes to read.. But hopefully my janelle is. So am going to introduce books to her.. cracking my brain on what's are the books that is suitable for her... mommies can recommend?

Mickey Mouse Car ride

Janelle saw the Mickey mouse car ride machine, she ran over and climbed up and into the car without support. I put in $1 coin to get it activated. Yes, $1... I remembered during my time was like 20 cents per ride but there wasn't any Disney characters. Ops, hope that's doesn't spell out my age.. But this $1 managed to get her smile, it's well spent.
















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"LIKE" needed....

Dear readers...

My sis had took part on Chris Ling's Photogenic Couples 2011.
Need your support to my sis on facebook by clicking on 2 "LIKE".

1. "LIKE" their page - https://www.facebook.com/chrisling.intl
2. "LIKE" their photo - Shamus & Celine - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150352229177744&set=a.10150352227762744.400699.197669602743&type=1&theater

I cant stop laughing when i first saw shamus's Alfro hair... Hurry, Get your friends help too.. share it on your wall today..

MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE..