Celebrating Christmas 2025 away from Home

There’s a unique kind of excitement that comes with celebrating Christmas away from home - especially when it is shared with family in another country. This year, I had the joy of joining Sam’s family to attend a Christmas worship service in a new church building I had never visited before. We arrived for the English-language service, which started at 1.30pm.

From the moment we stepped into the reception hall, I was struck by the scale and the design of the building. It reflected a style increasingly adopted by many growing churches today - an expansive reception area that flows into a vast sanctuary designed to accommodate large congregations. The soaring ceilings and open spaces created an atmosphere that felt both welcoming and festive, well-suited for a joyful Christmas gathering.

The warmth of the celebration was evident not just in the architecture, but in the people. Members and visitors alike were given complimentary lunch boxes, while cheerful volunteers moved around offering Christmas cookies to everyone. These simple yet generous gestures added a personal touch to the occasion and served as a gentle reminder that faith has a way of connecting people, regardless of place or background.

The church itself, Adam Road Presbyterian Church (ARPC), has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. It has expanded into three separate congregations, now serving about 2,000 adults and 1,000 children. This particular new church, ARPC@Tengah, stands as a testament to the church’s vibrancy and its strong resonance within the local community.

Complimentary lunch and Christmas cookies.

I may not recall every part of the pastor’s sermon that afternoon, but his closing words for the Christmas sermon remained with me. The projected screen showed a quote about fathers and the passing seasons of life: “At five years old, ‘Dad, I love you.’ At twelve, ‘Dad, I can’t stand you.' At sixteen, 'My father is very annoying.' At eighteen, 'I'm leaving this house.' At twenty-five, ‘Dad, you were right.’ At thirty, 'I want to go to my dad's house.' And at seventy, ‘I would give up everything to have my dad here with me.’”

Those words spoke quietly yet powerfully. In this season of remembrance, they felt like a gentle nudge from God - a reminder that life is fleeting, relationships are sacred, and love must not be taken for granted. May we learn to treasure those God has placed in our lives, while the opportunity to love, honour, and give thanks still remains.

The Joy of Eating Together

Whenever we gather with our children and their families - whether in WA or Singapore - sharing a meal together is always a must. It is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to reconnect and strengthen family bonds. Each time we gather around a table, food becomes more than mere nourishment; it becomes a space for conversation, laughter, the recalling of old memories, and sharing of life’s struggles. In these moments, stories resurface, family traditions are preserved, and a deep sense of continuity and belonging is renewed.

Even in a country celebrated for its world-class infrastructure and acclaimed governance, life is not without its challenges. Difficulties arise everywhere, often shaped not by systems but by some unreasonable and unkind people who exist in every corner of the world. It is during family gatherings like these that we find comfort and quiet reassurance.

Meals prepared by family members carry even greater significance. There is something especially meaningful about sharing food that has been cooked by closed family members. Our final meal on the night before our departure for home was particularly memorable, as it was a joint effort by my sons, Sam and Paul. Together, they prepared a wonderful and generous feast - creamy pasta with spinach and bacon, accompanied by a variety of pizzas. It was not just about the food on the table, but the effort and team work behind it.

The two chefs busy at work.

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While the chefs were hard at work in the kitchen, the grandparents and grandchildren were happily immersed in a lively Guess-the-Drawing Game, followed by a round of Charades. Quite to my surprise, Maddie, the youngest shone - successfully guessing several sketches when even the older ones failed. 

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Earlier, we had separate meals with Sam’s family and with Paul and Junshi. Sam’s family brought us to Sodofun @ Center Point, an outlet known for serving traditional Korean food. One of the dishes ordered was a Sichuan-style spicy fish fillet. At first glance, I was slightly apprehensive - the thin slices of fish were submerged in a bubbling, chilli and peppercorn-laden broth that looked fiercely spicy. To my pleasant surprise, however, the heat and numbing spice turned out to be quite manageable.

Fun time for the youngsters after the meal along Orchard Road.

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Paul and Junshi took us to Novena to sample authentic Hunan cuisine at Nong Geng Ji. Over the meal, we learned that Hunan restaurants have been expanding rapidly across Singapore in recent years, driven by growing popularity and rising demand. Known for its bold, fiery flavours and distinctive use of fresh chillies, Hunan food has struck a chord with local diners, making it one of the fastest-growing regional Chinese cuisines in the city.

A Family Escape to Remember in Christmas Season in Singapore

It is almost unbelievable that in a compact city-state like Singapore, one can still find a quiet hideaway where families can truly gather, relax and spend meaningful time together. Our stay at Civil Service Club @ Changi II felt like a rare escape from urban hectic life. The sea was just a short walk away, an open field stretched invitingly just in front of the rest house, and a patch of “jungle” lay only a few steps from our door.

In less than a day - barely 24 hours from check-in at 3.00 p.m. on 26.12.2025 to check-out at 11.00 a.m. the next morning - we managed to do so many things. Of course, we wished it could have been longer! 

We strolled along the boardwalk, saw a spotted moonfish just hauled in by an angler. With my two granddaughters, we ventured into the fringes of the nearby “jungle.” We played the limbo game in the field.  We spent quiet moments simply watching the sea. As evening fell, we fired up the barbecue and shared a leisurely dinner together. Later that night, we connected with Serene’s family in Western Australia over a video call, exchanging stories and laughter that bridged the distance between us.

The next morning, my wife and I rose early and walked eastward to catch the sunrise. We caught a glimpse of a soft golden glow, partially hidden behind towering trees and tall buildings.

In this rare outing, we explored, played, talked and enjoyed one another’s company without hurry. Time seemed to slow, and the hours were filled with warmth and togetherness, creating beautiful, unforgettable memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. Those simple yet precious moments truly brought us closer.

We saw this spotted moonfish caught by an angler along our boardwalk.

Along our boardwalk, we paused in front of the jetty of the nearby yacht club.

Livvie was particularly keen to get into the "jungle"!

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A sumptuous dinner.

For dessert, we had panettone all the way from Italy!

We were pleasantly surprised  by the thoughtful and unexpected gifts from the families of Sam and Paul.

After dinner, we had a video chat with family members living in WA.

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The night scene was equally stunning. In the distance, a multitude of lights from berthed sail boats shimmered against the dark waters, creating a gentle, twinkling horizon. This glow contrasted beautifully with the green field in the foreground and the softly lit lamp posts, while a colourful night sky stretched above as a dramatic backdrop. The entire scene was truly captivating, leaving us quietly mesmerised by its calm beauty.

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This is the final photo shot taken at 10:54 a.m., just minutes before the 11:00 a.m. check-out. Livvie and Maddie were pleading for a little extra time to watch the last moments of an episode of Wild Kratts - one of their favorite cartoon series!

At that moment, I really wished the check-out time could have been extended just by a couple of minutes more!