Almost broke

I ran into financial difficulties after losing money in the China venture. Plus Chris' Dad was hospitalised and needed a large sum of money for his medical expenses.

When I checked my bank account one day, I only had S$15 in it. So I took out all my gold jewellery and went to a pawn shop. There was a gold necklace and a pair of gold ear-rings - dowry from my father. And some assorted pieces of gold jewellery from relatives and friends. I pawned everything. What made me sad most was, I wasn't able to redeem the dowry that my father gave me.

For 2 years, I didn't have the money to redeem my jewellery and they were auctioned off. I didn't tell Chris about this. I don't like to wear jewellery and he didn't know that I had pawned all our wedding gifts.

It was a difficult time for me. I had people owing me money and I in turn owed my suppliers money. I didn't ask anyone for help. Being the proud ass, I always tried to settle my own problems. The bloody banks didn't want to lend me money. I was cracking my head and I was bearing this burden all by myself. I thought I would have to declare myself bankrupt.

When bill after bill started coming in, I was losing sleep. Days were spent calling my debtors for payment and for the suppliers to give me more time. I was pleading, begging. The private sector was willing to give grace but not the government departments, you cannot owe them a single cent. They send you letters threatening legal action. So even if you have to rob or kill to get money, you have to pay them.

One day, a business friend asked me out for lunch. He was Mr Tay, owned factories in Singapore and China, from the electronics sector. He's in his late 40s. From what little I gathered from the rest of the members, he had little education and built up his business all by himself. He's a man of few words, very quiet and unassuming. We met only at our association's functions and were not that familiar with each other. I had no business dealings with him. I was surprised to get his lunch invitation.