Musings of a Stay-at-home Mum

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T16:19:00.002+08:00

To all the wonderful Mummies that have been visiting me here:

Continue the fantastic job that you are doing with your children.
Happy Mother's Day!

Now you see it, now you dont!!

2008-05-09T06:58:00.003+08:00

Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or am I imagining things?

Now that rating thingey (which I wrote about in the previous post) has miraculously disappeared on its own.

Is someone playing a prank on me?

Eh, How come?

2008-05-08T06:34:00.004+08:00

I know, my previous post was supposed to be my last. But just had to post this.

Was logged out of blogger for a couple of days. There was no way I could get logged onto it, even though I had no problem getting on the net. Then suddenly, hey presto! I had no trouble getting in yesterday. Not sure if someone had hacked into my account. And then this morning, I noticed that after my comments, there is this rating thingey for my posts!! How did it get there? Who put it there? I dont know!!!

I thought maybe blogspot put it there. But when I checked other blogs that are on blogspot, they dont have it. Not even ecl. Checked my settings and layout, and there is nothing there. So where did it come from? I am a real dummy when it comes to even posting on blogger (I still cant do a strike through or change the font colour of my posts, despite other bloggers telling me to go to Edit HTML). So I couldnt have possibly done it, not even in my sleep!! So where did that come from?

Any ideas anyone??

Ending on a High

2008-04-24T09:55:00.005+08:00

A very BIG thank you to Jade for this award. I am so honoured to receive this award from you. You sure made my day!!

There are many others whom I have met while blogging that truly deserves this award. They are:

Yan from whom I have learnt a thing or two (or maybe even ten) just by reading her posts. She has shown me how the Lord has touched her life, and also how a true professional writes.

bp for sharing with me the beautiful life she is experiencing with her children in a foreign land. Just by reading her posts, I feel that I can truly connect with her, and as if we have been pals for years.

iml for her patience that seems to flow through to me from her blog. I wish I was more like her, able to handle my kids with no help.

eastcoastlife for her no-holds-barred, sometimes hilariously funny, and "educational" posts. ECL was one of the first to teach me a thing or two about blogging when I first started. She is what I would call my "sifu" of blogging.

tigerfish for sharing with us all her wonderful food posts and innovative recipes. I call her my "Nigella" of Blogspot.

mott for being her true self even when blogging. No pretences, no niceties just for the sake of it, for telling it like it is. Sometimes I wish I had the guts to post like her!!

And of course, the award goes to 2 blogs which have since closed: that of Judy (Grandmother Stories) and Kopi Soh (aka Firehorse), whose posts I really enjoyed reading AND for their care and concern for others through their actions. They have really shown God's Love to others in this blogging world.

Why am I giving so many awards? Because nothing could be better way than sharing the award with those so deserving of it and especialy after receiving it myself. It may come as a surprise to many of you but this is my last post. Why end? Just impulsive? Maybe! Many things have happened, many criticisms, many questions, and I feel that it is best that I stop.

To those who have asked: why the need to blog and make it public? yes, maybe you are right. Maybe all these should be kept private in a diary, just for my own eyes. To those who have read more than what I had written in my posts - my apologies, maybe it was a wrong choice of words. No offence was meant. No hard feelings. And to everyone else: If you were offended in any way by what I wrote, I apologise. Nothing was meant to hurt or poke at anyone - it was just my inability to choose a better word, to write it in a nicer way. Everything written was done "My way" .

And to share with you one of my favourite songs by Frank Sinatra, My Way:

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and ev'ry highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
"No, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

His song pretty much sums up what I am feeling! After one and a half years here, I am saying good bye. Sad to leave. BUT will not be gone forever. I will still be visiting your blogs.

So dear blogger friends, Adious for now. Take care and God Bless!!
{{{HUGS}}}

Are you impulsive?

2008-04-23T07:08:00.001+08:00

impulsive - an adjective - defined by the dictionary as:
a) proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus;
b) without forethought
c) determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
d) characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation.

Have always thought that I was quite an impulsive person, that would act at the drop of a hat, or shoot off my mouth, without first considering the reaction that would result. Have gotten into trouble from hubby ocassionally for doing things (all with good intentions, no doubt), without even considering what would happen after that! Deal with it later, just had to get it off my chest, or attend to it at that moment, I guess.

Hubby on the other hand is definitely not an impulsive person. He is one that would think through everything before he says or do anything ... just like a typical civil servant!!

So when I came upon this quiz, I decided to take it to actually find out how impulsive I am. Was quite surprised that I am actually not that impulsive after all! Maybe it was just a few occasions, and a mountain was made of that molehill, so it sticks in my memory. Like the quiz says, maybe its just my spontaneous side reacting. Quite a relief with the results, actually!!

You Are 35% Impulsive

You're a pretty stable and serious person. You don't take things lightly.

This doesn't mean you can't have fun - you just have fun responsibly.

You definitely have a spontaneous side, but you only let loose when it's appropriate.

Are You Impulsive?

Smile: The Truth about Hugs

2008-04-18T06:25:00.014+08:00

There's no such thing as a bad hug, only good ones and great ones

non-fattening and they don't cause cancer or cavities..

all natural with no preservatives, artificial ingredients or pesticide residue...

cholesterol-free, naturally sweet, 100% wholesome
and they are a completely renewable resource...

Easy to care for, they don't require batteries, tune-ups, or x-rays...

non-taxable, fully returnable and energy efficient...

safe in all kinds of weather...

In fact,

especially good for cold and rainy days and

exceptionally effective in treating problems like bad dreams or Monday blues...

Never wait until tomorrow to hug someone you could hug today, because when you give one, you get one right back your way !

And you know what? When you give a hug, that will definitely bring a smile to both you and the hugee's face. Got this smile tag from bp

There are many things that make me smile - like a good joke, being with friends, receiving a gift for no reason, just being at the jewellers, watching a funny movie - but nothing can beat seeing my childrens' happy faces.

I just want to share with you the most famous smile of all time and one of my favourite songs by the late Nat King Cole:

"Mona lisa, mona lisa, men have named you
'so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
For that mona lisa strangeness in your smile?

Do you smile to tempt a lover, mona lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, mona lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?"

bp wanted to see my smile, so here it is:

Hope it did not disappoint. Next time when I am less camera shy, I will post a BIG smile for you!!
:)

2nd Hand smoke

2008-04-16T09:12:00.003+08:00

Not a smoker, have never been, probably never will.

But do you know that even if you do not smoke you can get lung cancer? Yes, from 2nd hand smoke. And it can prove even more deadly than if you were to smoke.

Just got news that a good friend's mum, a non-smoker has just last week been diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer. She is not a smoker and has never been. As her daughter and me were pretty good friends - we have gone on family vacations together and even stayed at their home a number of times whilst on vacation - and as such we know her mum fairly well. She used to be healthy and active - jetsetting every other month to spend time with her children and grandchildren who live in Australia, Beijing and a third in Malaysia.

Now she is in a hospital in Perth, awaiting chemo. And that's not even her home. She hails from Ipoh, Malaysia, and was in Perth visiting one of her daughters and granddaughter who are living there, when she was diagnosed.

I guess that's the reality of life. Anything can hit you when you least expect it. So, what should we do? Live life to the fullest, and dont forget to tell our loved ones that we love them, coz we dont know what the maker has in store for us.

Auntie, I really hope and pray that you will get well soon!!

Pink Heart

2008-04-16T09:01:00.003+08:00

Received this beautiful Pink Heart from Hazel and Jo-N. Thanks ladies!

I have selected the following for the tag:
Ling
bkworm
bp
Jomel
iml

However, if you are not in the mood, please do not feel obliged to do the tag.

Here's what you have to do:
Cut and paste starting from here

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially! The benefits of Viral Linking:- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!- Increase your Google PageRank fast- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site- Build your community- Make new friends!

The Strategist Notebook, Link Addiction, Ardour of the Heart, When Life Becomes a Book, The Malaysian Life, Yogatta.com, What goes under the sun,Roshidan’s Cyber Station, Sasha says, Arts of Physics, And the legend lives, My View, My Life, A Simple Life, Juliana RW, The Callalily Space, Petra Summer in Blue, Confessions of an Army Wife Bless’ Sanctuary Happy Life, http://bless519.bravejournal.com/, La Place de Cherie, Chez Francine, Le bric a brac de Cherie, Little Peanut, Pea in a Pod, The Creative In Me, Me and Mine, Pinay Mommy, Expressions from the Heart, TeacherJulie, Sweetbites by Bang, Paul, Toni and Lance - Bridging the Distance, Our Growing Family, The Uncensored life of me, My Untamed World, Something Purple, A Detour, Something Purple, Wifespeaks, Changing Lanes, Bits and Pieces, My Chocolate Coated Glasses, God's Gift, Through the Rain, My Small World,
My Life, My Hope, My Future, Almanac Queen, Caramel Corn, Sunny Side Up Foodie,
It's All About Play, Places To Visit, Food To Taste, Shower Your Children With Love - The Right Way, Musings of a Stay At Home Mum,

Million Blog List

2008-04-16T08:49:00.002+08:00

An experiment to see how long it will take a million blogs to list on the site. It started on 10 April 2008.

I got myself listed this morning, and I am number 342.

If you have a blog, why dont you join the list? Just click here

Clean up, clean up!

2008-04-15T06:18:00.002+08:00

Ever had one of those days that you feel like just straightening the place up?

Yesterday, I cleaned out my mail basket, at 5.30am. Sorted thru all the mail. Some there since last year! Shredded those that I didnt need anymore. Junked the junk mail. Paid some "lost in the pile" mails!! Hoping to find some deductible expenses for my tax returns. No such luck! Now the mail basket is no longer overflowing.

Well, this morning at 5.30 am I did it again! Could not stand the sight of my dining table. It seems to have a special magnetism to attract trash and mess. So there and then, I decided to clean it out.

2 piles - one for the bin, the other for keeps. Shred, put aside, shred, put aside. This went on for some half hour. One lot went into the bin, the other kept aside.

Now the table is 1/3 full (vs 3/4 full at the start). At least we can do some work there now, and it looks like an organised mess.

Could do better. Must be braver to trash more things. But why do I get this instinct only at 5 in the morning??

Fickle Mum

2008-04-14T06:40:00.004+08:00

I am trying to train my oldest girl, S, now 12.

Everytime we go out, she is quite happy to go out empty handed. Why? No need to worry about leaving anything behind. Anyway, if she needs anything, Mum and Dad are there, and all she has to do is ask.

I want her to learn to bring her own things when she goes out: her wallet, some tissues (in case there is no toilet paper when she needs to visit the loo), her mobile (in case we get separated or my phone runs out of battery).

So everytime before we leave home, you will hear me asking: Did you bring your wallet? How about your mobile? Is it charged? Tissues?

Sometimes she remembers, sometimes she forgets.

My problem now is everytime before we go out, Little D will say: "Mummy can you help me find my mobile? Where is my wallet? I need some tissues!" She even insists on wearing her big fashionista ring when we go out.

Why is that a problem? Because I am not sure where she has left her things, and when she brings all these things, I have to keep a look out for them to make sure she doesnt leave it behind, which is fairly likely!

So, I end up telling her not to bring them or to bring only one thing (so that I have less to keep track of). But she reminds me: "You always remind jie jie to bring them, what!"

Guess she must be thinking: Will this fickle Mum please make up her mind?? Want us to learn to bring our own things or not?!!

:)

After weeks of anticipation....

2008-04-13T06:15:00.004+08:00

... the results are finally out!

The children in my daughters' class were assigned into groups last year to work on different projects. Some were assigned to the IRS group, where they were supposed to do Individualised Research, others into the FPS group, where they were to work on Future problem solving. My daughter, S, was selected to be in the Ivp group. Initially, she wasnt happy, as most of her good friends were assigned to the FPS group, and she felt left out. As they were supposed to work in pairs, and since her good friends were assigned to a different project, she hooked up with another girl from another class to work on the Ivp project.

This Ivp programme aims to provide the children with opportunity to develop their problem solving skills and inventive skills. They were supposed to invent a product not already on the market. The 2 girls thought, and thought. They considered the problems that they were facing and considered how they could come up with something that could solve it. Being very young children, only 11, they had many ideas, but most were beyond their expertise to develop.

The 2 girls finally decided on one problem which they faced when they did their projects. Everytime when they did their project work which required posters, they found that if they were to make a mistake they had to start all over again - especially when they worked with coloured markers on coloured paper. With the correction fluid on the market, any mistake meant white blotches on coloured paper - which looked unsightly. How they wished they had a correction fluid the colour of the paper they were working on, so that they did not have to start from scratch all because of a careless mistake!!

So, this became their project. Dont ask me how they did it. But they sure did. All I remember was handing over money to her time and again. They came up with a set of coloured correction fluids!! Their prototype was then demonstrated to a panel of advisors/mentors from the National University of Singapore, and guess what? They were selected to present their product at the Young Innovators Fair held at the Singapore Polytechnic.

At that fair, theirs was one of the most popular booths, as it addressed the problem many children and teachers faced. Many wanted to buy their product on the spot, but alas, they only made one set for demonstration purposes.

To add another feather to their cap, theirs was one of a few selected by the Ministry of Education to be showcased it at the Global Entrepolis 2007!! What an honour, to be showcased next to Global Innovations. They even received enquiries from trade professionals who wanted to mass produce their product for sale!!

The two girls then decided to enter their prototype for the Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Award. Their prototype was selected for a first round interview by a panel of judges. The place was crawling with "inventors" from numerous schools, many with teachers accompanying. The girls brought their prototype made some 9 months earlier. They used their same old posters from 2 exhibitions ago ie the Young Innovators Fair. These 2 young girls were on their own, having to answer whatever questions thrown at them, with no prior experience, nor coaching by their teachers on how to prepare for it. They came out feeling a little down, as some really difficult questions were thrown at them. They did not expect to be shortlisted for the 2nd round.

Guess what? From the hundreds selected for the 1st interview, they were shortlisted for a 2nd interview! The girls were ecstatic!! Now, they wanted to win!! They wanted a gold as a gold award meant a 4 figure cheque for the two of them. 7 days later, they met another panel of judges. This time only 3 primary school teams made it this far. And, they still brought the same prototype from 9 months earlier, now with even much less fluid left inside from all that demonstrations!! They were not told when the results would be out.

One week went by. No news. 2 weeks went by, still no news. Here we were, anxiously checking her email everyday, as well as the Tan Kah Kee website for the results. 3 weeks, and we were still in the dark on the results. And hey presto! Yesterday morning, when we checked her email account - they received the news that they had been waiting for. They received a Commendation for their product!! Not the gold - never mind - a commendation is just as good!!

They would be receiving their award at a ceremony to be held in June from the Minister of Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, and their product will be exhibited for a week at the Singapore Science Centre from June 21st 2008.

S, we are all so proud of you!! Well Done! Ice-cream for everyone to celebrate this win!!

Boys hate to brush teeth!

2008-04-11T06:35:00.004+08:00

Is it true or not?

I think it is. A friend shared this story with me. It's a true story.

She was on vacation with another couple and their son in China and they were staying with some friends. Their friends could only take 2, so she and the boy bunked in with them, whilst the couple went to stay in a hotel nearby. Her friend told her to remind her son to brush his teeth every morning and every night. She, at first thought that her friend was the so-kiasu and kiasi mum that would pamper and remind the son to do things. To her horrors, she noted that the boy, though 14 years of age, would not brush his teeth if he wasnt told to do so!! And even when told, would do so reluctantly.

I am facing the same problems. My son, N, hates to brush his teeth! I have to remind him to brush his teeth everynight. If not, it would not be done. And even if I do remind him, he still doesnt do it sometimes. I end up having to check his toothbrush to find out if he had indeed brushed his teeth!! Ewwww!

Sometimes, when I am too lazy, I dont check. Or when I dont want a showdown, I just let it pass even if I know he hasnt brushed. Recently, I discovered that he doesnt brush before school. So (if I wake up early) I will haul him back to the bathroom after breakfast to brush! Coz it means that if I do not haul him back, he doesnt brush in the morning and at night, he may not even brush his teeth for days!! Double Eeewwww!

Why are boys like that? The dentist did tell him that he has very nice teeth, and that he needed to brush well. She also told him that he probably would not need to go thru what his sister did (mass extraction of teeth under sedation/GA) coz his teeth are growing very nicely in his mouth. Yes, his mouth seems to have the space to accomodate all his teeth. It would really be a shame if he has none in there from not brushing!!

Any ideas on how to remedy this problem? Short of me standing by the sink everyday, I really dont know what to do. You would think that at 8, he would be responsible enough to want to brush and smell good. Or do I have to wait until girls feature in his life before I can stop nagging him??

A Trip to the zoo

2008-04-10T06:00:00.004+08:00

Little D's class had a field trip to the zoo yesterday, and I went along as a parent volunteer. Though it was only the morning that we were there, we spent most of the time in the fragile forest and saw soooo much.

These ring-tailed lemurs were actually posing for photos.

The children were really awed by the bats as they were so near, and when it flew by, it literally touched the tops of our heads. Actually it did touch the top of my head, and I almost freaked out. But had to pretend to keep my cool so as not to scare the little ones!! LOL!

Also in the fragile forest, the butterflies were so close, they could touch them. I believe they put some nectar or whatever on the stands which attracted the butterflies to it.

And this mousedeer was almost frightened by the children. Many tried to stretch out to touch it.

The children also got to see the Macaws up close.

Moles on your face

2008-04-09T13:52:00.000+08:00

This is just for fun. Not sure if it is true, but some people do believe it!!

The Chinese Almanac, also known as the Tung Shu, is commonly known as a book of auspicious and inauspicious dates, but there is so much more to the Tung Shu than that. It is a vast mine of information relating to astrology, codes and symbols, derived by the wise sages and philosophers of ancient China . Today I share with you the secrets from the almanac regarding moles on your face and what they mean depending on which part of your face they appear.

First, check your face for any moles, and then look at the diagram above to identify the number(s) that are a closest match to the moles on your face. Usually, the moles only hold meaning for you if they are prominent and they are the only one. If your face if full of spots, acne or "little" moles, they do not count. When you've ascertained which position corresponds to the mole on your face, look up the meanings listed by numbers below.

Position 1 to 3
As a child, you are somewhat rebellious and a free spirit. You have an innate creativity and work best when you are given a free hand. Generally, your superiors like your avante garde approach to life. If you have a mole here, you are far better off in business and being your own boss rather than working for somebody. What is promising is that you have the luck to be your own boss.

Position 4
You are an impulsive person, often acting with a flamboyance that gives you charisma and a sparkling personality, but you can be difficult when there are too many opinions. You tend to be rather argumentative, but never to the point of holding grudges. This mole tends to give you an explosive temper and should you decide to remove it, you will find yourself becoming calmer and more at peace with the world.

Position 5
A mole above the eyebrow indicates that there is wealth luck in your life, but you will need to earn it and work harder than most people. All the income you make must be carefully kept as there are people who are jealous of you who might attempt to sweet talk you into parting with your wealth. Be wary of those who try to interest you in get-rich-quick schemes. If you have a mole here, it is advisable not to be too trusting of others. Follow your instincts and be cautious. And never allow other people to control your finances.

Position 6
A mole here indicates intelligence, creativity and skill as an artist. Your artistic talent can bring you wealth, fame and success. It also indicates wealth luck, but this can only be fully realized if you follow your heart rather than stick to conventional means of making a living. Success will come if you are brave.

Position 7
Moles under the eyebrows indicate arguments within the extended family that cause you grief and unhappiness. This will affect your work and livelihood. It is advisable to settle any differences you have with your relatives if you want peace of mind to move ahead.

Position 8
This is not a very good position for a mole. Your financial position will constantly be under strain because of a tendency to overspend. You also have a penchant for gambling. The only thing is you must know when to stop. Meanwhile, someone with a mole here has a tendency to flirt with members of the opposite sex as well as with the same sex. Better be a little discerning where you exert your charms, or you might get into trouble.

Position 9
This mole position suggests sexual and other problems. It is an unfortunate mole and you are well advised to get rid of it. It brings a litany of woes and a parade of problems.

Position 10
A mole here just under the nose indicates excellent descendants luck. You are surrounded by family at all times and will have many children and grandchildren. You have the support of those close to you and will be both materially and emotionally fulfilled.

Position 11
Moles here suggest a tendency to succumb to illness. It is a good idea to have this mole removed especially if it is a large, dark-coloured mole. Otherwise use lots of foundation to cover it.

Position 12
A mole here foretells a successful but also a very balanced life. You are likely to be not just rich, but famous as well. But although you have every opportunity to live the high life, you will have a satisfying home and family life as well. Women with moles here are particularly lucky and tend to be beautiful and glamorous as well.

Position 13
Your children will be a big worry in your life. Your relationship with them is not good. There is nothing much you can do about this except to learn some tolerance.

Position 14
A mole here suggests a vulnerability to food which can be a big problem in your life. You may have allergies against certain foods or you may simply be eating too much.

Position 15
You are a person always on the move and constantly renovating and redesigning your house. You like to be introduced to new things and see new places. You are not happy if you remain in one place for long. You enjoy travel and adventure, and have a very observant eye.

Position 16
You need to be careful when it comes to eating, and also when it comes to your sex life. These are your two biggest problems. You tend to have weight issues which can make you depressed. You enjoy romance, sometimes with more than one person, but because you are a person with some morality, you will feel guilty about it and this will cause you much stress.

Position 17
You will be someone of great social prominence. You are active on the social scene and an excellent conversationalist. There is a tendency to become bigheaded about your success, which could lose you your good name. This will affect you deeply because you draw your confidence and self worth from what others think of you.

Position 18
You are a person always on the move. There is a great deal of overseas travel in your life, but you should take extra care each time you cross the great waters, as your mole prefers you to stay at home.

Position 19
You have money luck and many good friends, so this is a good mole to have. Your weakness is that you tend to succumb to the charms of the opposite sex. In your life, it is this that could get you into hot water, so do cool your ardour!

Position 20
A mole here can be very lucky or very unlucky. If you have a mole here, you are destined either for extreme fame or infamy. You have great flair for creativity and are also highly intelligent, but your talents can be used for both good and bad. You are not a person to be trifled with for you are no pushover and do not forgive and forget easily. This mole is a mark of someone who will go down in history either as a great or as a tyrant.

Position 21
This is a good mole, as it suggests plenty to eat and drink throughout your life. This mole also brings fame and recognition.

Position 22
Your life is always happy and things go smoothly for you. You could well become a sports superstar if you have the passion for it. Moles at the end of eyebrows also suggest a person of authority and power, so if you are the CEO of a company, you will do very well.

Position 23
You have a high IQ, and you are both brain smart and street smart. You have a highly-developed survival instinct and will lead a meaningful and long life. You will be active until a very old age and will have friends and family around you till the very end.

Position 24
You will achieve fame and fortune in your young age and you are advised to use this period to safeguard your old age, as people with moles here tend to have a harder life as they get older.

Position 25
You will enjoy good prosperity and recognition luck, but do be careful of excesses. Stay traditional in your attitudes and you will have a long and fruitful life.

So based on the moles on your face, is there any truth to what it says??

Anyone smarter than Bill?

2008-04-08T06:55:00.002+08:00

Apparently, even Bill Gates can't explain this.

Do this:
1) Open a blank Word document(Microsoft word)
2) type the following: =rand(200,99)
3) Press 'Enter' and wait 5seconds....

Surprise.... ....!!!

How did that happen? I dont know. I am not smarter than Bill!

Entrepreneurs in The Making

2008-04-07T08:46:00.001+08:00

My daughter's class sure has the entrepreneurial spirit.

At the start of this year, some children noticed that there were quite a number of their classmates who did not go down to the canteen for recess. This was due to a variety of reasons:
1. the teacher releasing them late for recess,
2. their class being located on the sixth floor, and hence it was a long walk down to the canteen, not counting the climb of 6 flights up to class after recess,
3. some children wanting to play in class during recess,
4. some children wanting to finish some of their work during recess.
5. a variety of other reasons eg dieting, the long queues in the canteen.

So, some of them offered to buy food for the others, with a service fee tagged on: an extra 10cents for every item purchased. So if someone wanted a bun and a fruit, he would have to pay extra 20 cents. This service was initially offered only to their fellow classmates. Very soon, children from the other classes heard about it and started using the service as well. They had to extend their team of buyers, and a schedule was drawn up for them to take turns to provide the service. All fees earned went into the class fund.

Some teachers heard of it and stopped it. Some of the more eloquent ones (read: our future top lawyers) then fought for the right to continue the service. You should have seen their arguments, it was so professional! The teachers had no choice but to let them continue providing the service. At the end of term 1, the class had made enough money to pay for a pizza lunch for all in the class (read: they made more than $100!!).

When term 2 started, they children decided to change their strategy. Their workload was getting heavier, and they needed time for themselves too. They decided to purchase storable food in bulk, and sold them to their schoolmates at a profit. They started a mini-canteen in their own class!! Now their profits are even more, as they buy in bulk at close to wholesale prices, and sell at a substantial profit. They have a roster for some to do the purchasing, and they take turns to do the selling. Eg. A packet of "monster noodles" purchased at a cost of 10cents is sold at 50 cents!!

I told my daughter that the pricing was too expensive as I felt that they were making too much money. But her retort was: "If the other children are willing to pay for it, why not! If we are not able to sell then we would consider revising the prices down!"

I can just imagine the size of the class coffers now!!

Who said Singaporeans had no entrepreneurial spirit? The evidence of it is right here!!

When friends meet, hearts warm

2008-04-06T14:42:00.003+08:00

That was the saying on a decorative tile which my friends gave to me for my 16th birthday. I distinctively remember the verse, as when I first received it, I thought how true it was.

Last friday evening, a group of us met up for dinner. There were to be 7 of us, but 3 could not make it in the end. One had to fly off with her husband on short notice, another had work commitments which she could not get out off, and the last thought it was to be held the week after!!

Anyway, 4 "convent" girls met. Two have not met for 29 years, and continued like they never lost touch. The reason for the gathering was that one was migrating soon. Though it was only 4, we were a noisy bunch, busy eating, talking and catching up despite all the noise in the restuarant we were in.

Sad isn't it? When friends leave. For whatever reasons, we have one less girl friend to meet up with for a meal. Nowadays, we tend to only meet when someone is visiting (after having migrated), or when someone is migrating. Or, at funerals. (We are at that age where our parents are fairly vunerable to be returning to the maker.) We rarely meet up for no reason. Everyone is busy with their own lives and family demands.

Old Friends should meet more often, as warm hearts give us that nice fuzzy feeling!!

;)

T.G.I.F.

2008-04-04T09:40:00.002+08:00

Yes! T.G.I.F.

The two older kids are home - coz its sports day for the upper primary, and since N does not need to go, I told S to stay home too. She was a little concerned as its supposed to be compulsory for the upper primary children. But to save me the hassle of having to pick and send just one kid, I told her to take the time to sleep in late, do her homework, and recharge. With a busy school year, and an equally busy co-curricular activities calendar (because of tournaments) today is one of the few chances that she gets to relax and recharge!

Little D is, of course, in school!

I then accepted an invitation from my ex-colleagues to join them for lunch today. I have not seen them since November last year!!! So I, too, get to relax and recharge.

Have a great weekend!!

:)

Frenzy

2008-04-03T13:00:00.001+08:00

When you are caught in a frenzy it is really difficult to prise yourself out of it. It is much worse when all around you, others are caught in it as well. You just sink deeper and deeper into that black hole. Your pain threshhold gets higher and higher. Logic does not prevail. The only way out is to go cold turkey!

Dilemma

2008-04-02T14:16:00.004+08:00

Since the start of this year, when Little D's school moved a little further away from my home, my friend Hw and I started this carpool for our little girls. I would send her daughter home on Mondays and Wednesdays, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she would send Little D home. On fridays, we would both pick our girls ourselves.

I am not sure what I should do now, coz, MIL, who usually helps me when we go to pick the girls, is not happy with the arrangement, and wants me to stop it. You see Hw's daughter is not very independent, and whoever picks her has to carry her bags for her, help her with her shoes, supervise her coming down the stairs (or she will be running wild or jumping all over the place). And she is prone to forget to take some things of hers, and she would suddenly remember it just as we get into the car and one of us would have to go back to pick it up, or she would be throwing a big tantrum about wanting her things. Little D on the other hand is like the eveready bunny. As soon as she spies us, she would have collected her water bottle, folder, bag, and she would be off to put on her shoes by herself. She will then go down the stairs in a calm manner (no jumping or running).

Also, for quite a number of fridays now, I have been picking her daughter home for her. One day, MIL found out from Hw's helper that there were days she was out shopping, lunching, or whatever, when she told me to pick her girl for her!! I think that triggered it for MIL.

When we first discussed this arrangement, Hw really appealed to me to help her out, as she is studying part-time, and for her to make it home to pick her girl everyday, was not an option. Her husband wasnt keen on putting their little girl on the school bus and suggested that she tried carpooling. I also thought that by having this arrangement, I would also have some days where I am less hassled by all the rushing to and fro to pick all three kids. And with her helping out on my two busy days, it was a win-win situation. What I did not envisage was her daughter's lack of independence, and in MIL's words, Hw taking advantage of me and the arrangement. Mil is also unhappy that when Hw picks the girls home, she is usually late. (Actually she is not really late, just not as early as we are.)

Hubby thinks that if MIL is not happy with it, (since she helps me out), I should discontinue it. He too, prefers me to pick Little D myself, as being the super cautious parent that he is, he is worried that Hw may not be a safe driver. He is also concerned about the liability issues that may arise should anything happens. (Choi! Touch wood!)

The problem now is that when we worked this arrangement out, I did not put in the escape clause of: ".. lets see how it works out and we are free to discontinue this arrangement if it doesnt work out."

I really dont know if I should discontinue this arrangement with her. I actually have no problem with it - its those around me that are against it. And if I do, I really dont know how to tell Hw without jeopadising our friendship - coz I know she would be in a real dilemma if I were to discontinue it. Now I am in a dilemma. To continue or not? What do you think?

My Great Helper

2008-04-01T06:35:00.004+08:00

For the past week, this great helper of mine has been doing so much to help me with Little D. You see, Little D is at the age where she is testing boundaries and trying to rebel. Everything that I tell her, most likely she will refuse to do it or she will do the opposite. Can you believe, at this age she still wakes up for night feeds. I know she doesnt need it, coz when she wakes up for the feeds, she ends up with no appetite for breakfast. But I cant seem to discourage her from waking up at night.

In steps my great helper. She tells Little D: If you wake up for milk, mummy will be so tired, she will not be able to bring you to New York for a holiday. (Yes! Little D wants to go to NY). Guess what? Hey presto! Little D has not been waking up for the past 6 nights for night feeds, and she feeds so well at breakfast! Its not that I have not used the same words on her. I did, but it did not work.

Every night, at bedtime, I will face resistance from Little D. She wouldnt want to change into her pyjamas, she doesnt want to go to the loo, she doesnt want to brush her teeth. I know she is stalling for time as she wants a later bedtime. In steps my great helper. She tells Little D to do all of those, and hey presto! Little D has done it. She will then read Little D her bedtime story, give her the last bottle of milk for the day, waits till she finishes her milk, clears the bottle and then this great helper of mine goes to bed.

{Why is it when I tell Little D nicely, entice her, and even threaten her (only sometimes), she still wont do it? But when this great helper of mine just asks her, she does it? I think she is trying to break free from me.}

I am so glad I have this great helper. If not, I can just imagine the struggles I have with Little D each night. And, at the end of a long day, I am just so tired and not the most patient person around. This great helper is none other than my daugther S!!

Soccer Mania!

2008-03-31T06:24:00.005+08:00

I am not sure when it exactly started or how it started. But about one month ago, he didnt know much. Suddenly he knows everything about it.

I am referring to my son N, and the English Soccer League. I am not sure what fuelled his interest, but suddenly, all the talk is about the Barclays Premier League!!

Now, every morning, as soon as his alarm rings, he jumps right out of bed, washes up and rushes down for breakfast. During breakfast, he will quiz his grandpa on the games that was played the past night, whilst he was asleep. Immediately after breakfast, (but before his sister is even down), he will turn on the TV and watch the highlights of the previous nights game on the Football Channel, before leaving for school. In the evenings, he will be fighting with me or hubby for the newspaper, so that he can read up on it. Even his sister is beginning to show some interest in the game, and now they know more than me about the players, games and score.

I must admit that when I was his age, I was really into soccer. Watching almost every Malaysia Cup game live with my dad at the National Stadium. We would travel occassionally for the away games as well. But I wasnt really into the English Premier League, but I would watch a couple of games, and knew the names of a few of the star players. Last evening, when the name Kevin Keegan was mentioned, I mentioned to N that he was one of the top players during my time. Now Keegan is the manager of one of the teams. Due to work and family demands, I eventually lost touch with soccer.

Seeing how interested he was in the game, I suggested that maybe he should watch some games live at the stadium. I mentioned that nothing could beat the excitement and thrill of watching a live game!! Of course, I was referring to the local S league games. He was really excited, and requested to go for the next game. He thought I was referring to the EPL and suggested the next Man U game!! He wants to go to Old Tratford! So do I!! But of course, that is not possible. When I told him it was the local games I was referring to, he was not interested at all. He called them boring.

Hubby said that local games would not interest him as he doesnt know any of the players. For the EPL, he seems to know all the teams, their players and the stats. He can remember who scored how many goals in which game, the final score for the games, who got sent off, the teams position on the tables, and when games were to be played. Amazing! How I wish, he had as much interest in his multiplication tables and could remember them as well!

:)

Earth Hour

2008-03-29T12:44:00.003+08:00

Earth Hour is an initiative that aims to encourage people to be more aware of their energy usage which has been contributing to global warming. Started in 2007 by the Australians, it is now a Global event, whereby those participating will turn off all lights for an hour.

Earth Hour this year will be held on Saturday 29 March 2008 from 8 to 9pm. Sydney, Australia will be the first to kick off this global dimming with lights at all their landmarks such as Sydney Opera House, and Harbour Bridge being turned off during that time.

Please help by doing your part to combat climate change. It is just a small step, but if everyone does their bit, it can make a difference. So remember, lights out at 8pm!

Sip ....ahhh!

2008-03-27T08:50:00.008+08:00

My older kids drink milk only at breakfast. I find it sooooo difficult to get them to drink more milk. There stand is: We are no longer babies, so we dont need to be drinking milk all the time.

They do not seem to understand that milk is one of the most nutritionally complete foods available and that they need milk for their growing bodies. The body goes through extreme physical changes during these growing years, including marked increases in height, bone and muscle growth which result in increased demand for energy and specific nutrients. And, the easiest way to way get more of these nutrients to aid their growth is to supplement their everyday diet with milk.

I was at the petrol kiosk the other day, and I stumbled upon these:

It is the "Sipahh straws" that my kids had read about. Sipahh is a milk flavouring straw that contains "beads" which dissolve when milk is sipped through it, thereby flavouring the milk. It does not contain artificial flavours, nor preservatives and has less than half a teaspoon of sugar in each straw. It also comes in a variety of flavours, like strawberry, choc mint, chocolate, banana, and cookies and cream.

I know drinking with sipahh straws is like offering them flavoured milk. But I feel that flavoured milk contains way too much sugar. With these straws they get the necessary nutrients without all that sugar, and for me less of their "hyper-ness", (tho' it adds considerably to the cost of each glass of milk!)

Now, when they drink their milk, they will, sip and then say: "Ahhh" as instructed on the straw wrapper! I just hope this milk drinking can be sustained, and that the novelty of it does not wear out too soon, coz I like them drinking more milk.

Emotional with age

2008-03-26T07:25:00.005+08:00

Do people get more emotional with age?

I find that I have.

Just reading touching stories in the newspapers or magazines can bring tears to my eyes. Dont even talk about sad movies!! It's like it is happening to me. I can feel exactly how the other party feels. I can emphatise and sympathise with them. And I can cry. Even talking about my lost ring to a friend brought a lump to my throat.

A friend shared with me that she too has become more emotional. When she saw the Sept 11 events on the news in 2001, she said:"tears just flowed down my cheeks like the foodgates were open." And when she heard the news of the tsunami in 2004, she couldnt stop herself again.

How come, ah? I never used to be so emotional. In fact, I used to be pretty tough, never showing much emotions. Just like a crab. But now I am soppy. Are my hormones playing tricks on me? and as a result I am more in touch with my feelings. Or is it beause of motherhood? Or what?

Have you become more emotional like me?

Blessing in Disguise?

2008-03-24T09:28:00.005+08:00

Since I discovered that I lost my "S" ring last week, we found out so much more.

When we mentioned my lost ring to my current helpers, they decided to tell us the WHOLE story. Things began to fall into place for them and for us, and as a result, we have decided to take some action that will protect the family.

Here's what they told us:

Ex maid has been calling very often to ask if "Mam" has asked about any lost things? (Why would she be asking them that question if she is not guilty).

Current help told us that ex maid mentioned that she was the one responsible for my 3 tyre punctures. (Remember my post entitled Jinxed in Nov 2007?). She wanted us out of the house for longer periods of time, so she could get up to her nonsense!

MIL confessed that she has lost more jewels - a diamond ring, a diamond pendant, etc.

Current help said that she was showing off to them the amount of money she had in her bank account - some $13000!! And all those jewels she has been wearing - she looks like a christmas tree. How on earth did she get so much money? Even if she never spent a single cent while working for us, there was no way she could amass so much money.

They also mentioned that ex maid said that if we had not signed the form for her to ICA (when she was applying to marry a Singaporean) she would have burned our house down! (How vicious can someone get?)

They have also mentioned that she keeps telling them that working in our household was no good, too much work, and that they should go work in Taiwan where more money was paid. But ex maid has been telling MIL that she wants to come back to work for us, once she got married. If it is that Bad, why does she want to come back here? So she can steal more?

We have noticed cases of "sabotage" like childrens new clothes gone missing - (which current help suspects she stole), pots corroded due to some substance put on it (looks like some clorox substance and it has been intentionally put), never used side doors that has suddenly become unlocked. Even told current helpers that when things are lost Mam will only grumble for a few days, and than that will be the end of it. (Is she instigating them to steal, coz it means tolerating a few days of grumbling and they will be better off?)

Current help also mentioned that she took picture of the inside of the house when we were out. Also, she mentioned to current help that if she wants to do "Kong tow" (put a spell/ cast a voodoo) on anyone of us, it was very easy, our photo albums are easily assesible!! Now we even suspect that she could have been involved in the house break-in (my post entitled: crime in the area in July 2007).

What have we done to deserve this? We had treated her and her sister so well. When her sister wanted to come here to work, we went thru all the trouble to make the necessary arrangements, and applied everything personally so that she did not have to pay any agents fee. We were inconvenienced, but we thought that if we could help them, why not? After working for less than a year, both sisters wanted to go home on home leave, and we allowed it. Even paying for their air tickets home. (In most cotnracts for domestic helpers, if you do not finish a two year contract, dont even think of going home!)

They were helpers who ate everything that we ate (pork excepted), even the expensive delicacies. MIL did most of the cooking, even cooked for them to eat. They did not have to look after any of my kids. They did not even have to wash milk bottles or boil water for making milk, all which I did myself. When the kids messed up, we did not even call them to clean or pack up after them, we cleaned up after the kids ourselves. We even clean up the dining table after each meal, they only have to wash the dishes. Many times, they even have their dinner before we do!!

They only did cleaning, washing and ironing (then again, even the better clothes, I hand washed myself or it went to the dry cleaners!!). Who has ever heard of Indonesian helpers who got 2 off days a month? Well, the ex maid had that priviledge! (And the current ones too!)

Now that we have realised how vicious she can get, we have decided to take some precautions. We have changed our padlocks. If she calls, we will tell her not to come anymore - the problem is she always drops by unannounced, at a time when MIL and I are not home - that's part of the problem. She knows our schedule so well, she knows when we are home and when we are out!! Even the current helpers are worried, and asked what can be done to prevent her from coming. They are so afraid they will be framed for her evil doings.

But, I think the loss of my ring may have been a blessing in disguise, coz now we know the real her. We have always trusted her, but unfortunately it looks like we have been betrayed BIG TIME. We are now able to take the necessary action to prevent it from happening again. We are more alert to things that could and may happen. We are more cautious. It has also made us more suspicious, which may not be a good thing. In fact, I hope it has not made me lose the trust in our current helpers, coz what have they done to deserve it?

Short of moving house (which is out of the question) I am not sure what else we can do!!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-21T14:34:00.004+08:00

2 more days to Easter!

Easter is the most important day in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For my kids, and many other children, the highlight of Easter is, of course, the chocolate eggs that they will get. Grandpa, who just came back from Perth last night brought with him so many eggs, that I can just feel the cavities forming in my children's teeth ( and the huge dental bill that will come) just by looking at those eggs. (I am such a killjoy, huh?). I think, I will just have help them eat it all up. Better me with the cavities than them, not?

For many children in the US, esp those living around the Washington DC area, and the states surrounding it, the highlight of their Easter is the Easter egg Roll at the White House. Yes! The White House.

Rolling eggs on the Monday after Easter was a tradition observed by many Washington families, including those of the US President. Some historians believe Dolley Madison first suggested the idea of a public egg roll, while others tell stories of informal egg-rolling parties at the White House dating back to President Lincoln's day.

Over the years, the Egg Rolls have evolved and changed, with different games and amusements popular in different years. Near the end of the nineteenth century, children played "Egg Picking," "Egg Ball," "Toss and Catch, " and "Egg Croquet." Soon the event evolved into a more elaborate affair, with bands, entertainers and food.

This year's Easter Egg roll will be held on the South Lawn of the White House on 24 March 2008. Tickets to this event are distributed free on a first-come-first-served basis from the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (southwest corner of 15th and E Streets) on 22 March and on 24 March from 7.30am. So if you are in the vicinity, that may be something you want to check out.

I was in Washington over the Good Friday long weekend many years ago. The roads leading to Washignton were packed with many families hoping to be able to get tickets to this event, coz how often are you allowed on the grounds of the White House when the first couple is there? And to top that - free food and entertainment? No, I did not manage to get tickets when I was there. But I managed to visit the many museums and memorials. One beautiful sight at this time of the year is the beautiful cheery blossom trees in full bloom that line the potomac river. I believe it was a gift from the Japanese Emperor to one of the past US presidents. It is a sight to behold - the river banks dotted with pretty pink cherry blossom trees!

So, to one and all:
A Happy and Blessed Easter!!

Down in the Dumps!

2008-03-20T10:12:00.004+08:00

"When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you."
An extract from A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins

That's exactly how I am feeling right now, in the dumps! And I dont have anything to look at!

Why? Because I lost something that is so dear and precious to me, that I could kick myself for it. I feel like crying. AND I know hubby will be very upset with me for it. He just mentioned the other day, that if I buy anything new, I have to make sure I keep it properly, because once lost, it will be gone for good, and now it has happened! Why, oh why!

You see, when I had my daughter S, he bought me a ring, which we took a long time to source. I liked it very, very much and wore it almost everyday. That ring has always had a special place in my heart, just like my daughter. I call it the "S" ring.

That ring is set in gold,and has a very unique design. Recently, I have been a little distracted. Also, I have been wearing my new white gold bracelet and earrings, and as such, have not worn that ring. I put it in an unlocked drawer as I wear it quite frequenly and had thought that if I put it in the locked drawer, it would be such a hassle to unlock my drawer everyday, just to take it out to wear it.

Yesterday, I was talking to my friend about that ring, and suddenly realised that I have not noticed the ring box in my unlocked drawer. When I went to my drawer, it was no longer there!! I cleared out everything in all my drawers and cant find it. It was just 2 weeks ago when I last wore it, just after the 15th day of the lunar new year, I remember.

Where has it gone to? I dont know, but I think my ex maid stole it. My mil has lost loads of money and jewelry when the ex maid and her sister were working for us. But mil suspected the sister of stealing, and sent the sister home. I told mil that the ex maid could be guilty too, but she did not believe me. Why? because the ex-maid knows how to sweet talk her. Also, because she thinks that the ex-maid has lots of money, and thus will not steal. Where did she get the money from? She told my mil that her boyfriend gives her $300 every month. I have always told mil how can she be so sure that is true. She could have stolen mil's money, and told her boyfriend to bank $300 every month into the account for her, so that mil would not suspect. Now, Mil also thinks it is her, coz she just revealed to me that after the ex-maids' sister was sent home, she lost another $4000.

This ex-maid left us at the end of December when her contract ended. She has found herself a Singaporean boyfriend and has applied, and got approval to marry him. Hence, she is in Singapore. She has also been dropping by to visit us on a regular basis. MIL feels bad telling her not to visit! Just the other day, I was out. When I got home, some things fell out of my cupboard when I opened it, and my handbag (I changed handbag) which I had kept properly in its carrier bag, had its handles and drawstring hanging out. I mentioned that to hubby, that it was so odd that it happened. Now thinking back, that was the day the ex-maid visited us. That was also probably the day she took my ring. But I have no proof.

This has kept me up all night. I just couldnt sleep thinking about the ring. I even went to the safebox this morning to see if I could have put it there by mistake. But no, it was not there. I really feel like crying. How am I going to replace that ring? I dont even have a photo of it. How to break the news to my hubby and S? I have always told S that the ring will be hers one day. Now it is gone!!

The Tooth Fairy

2008-03-18T10:08:00.003+08:00

My daughter, S extracted 6 of her teeth last week. And uptill today, she's still awaiting the tooth fairy.

The last time she extracted 4 of her teeth, she only put one of them under her pillow, but the tooth fairy left her $10.The tooth fairy usually leaves her $2 a tooth. She had wanted to put another tooth the next night, but her brother brought her other teeth to school for show and tell and lost them. So, she did not get any more money for the rest of those teeth.

This time round, she again put one tooth. But the tooth fairy did not come. She was really disappointed.

She is already 12, and she still believes in the tooth fairy and santa clause(!!). When I asked her: You mean you still believe that there is a tooth fairy?

Her reply was: Yes! If not, how else can I get money for my teeth?

I then told her that maybe she was not being honest with the tooth fairy, and the tooth fairy realised that she had planned to trick him like the last time hence did not visit this time.

So, the 2nd night, she put all 6 teeth under her pillow.

Again, no money. So I decided to tell her the truth.

I said: I guess the tooth fairy has been working very hard, especially with the hols and so many children getting dental operations this few days. So he is probably very tired and is at home snoring the night away. As for his wife, the tooth fairy god mother, she is also fast asleep as she doesnt want to be kept awake by his snoring, so she makes sure she is fast asleep even before he gets into bed.

See! I never lie to my kids!

So, do you think the tooth fairy should be visiting soon?

It's "Please" not "Now!"

2008-03-16T13:32:00.002+08:00

In this age of instant everything (eg instant coffee, instant noodles, instant passport photos, etc) the kids too have caught on. They want everything "NOW!"

A common phrase coming out of Little D's mouth is : I want it NOW!

Never mind that we have to cook it, make it, find it, etc, she wants it NOW, and if she doesnt get it, she will throw a tantrum, BIG TIME!

Hubby and I have been trying to teach her that "NOW" all the time is not possible. If we can accede, we will. More often than not, it is not possible. We have told her, ask for it with a "Please" not "Now!"

So now everytime she asks for something, we will say: Is it now?

When she is in a good mood, she will smile and say: No! It's please.
When she is in a not so good mood, she will not answer, and we will ask her: What's the magic word? She knows that if she doesnt use the magic word, she will not get it, tantrum or not.

Just the other day, I told her it was time for her nap. She looked at me, and was about to fuss about having to take a nap (I could see that in her eyes), when I gave her a stern look and said : Now!

She said: Mum, it's not "Now" it's "please"!

What can I say? She is a fast learner!!

Playing with food

2008-03-15T21:04:00.002+08:00

Have always told the kids not to play with their food. But look! Here are some fun things you can actually do with food and "play" with your kids! Even your next dinner guests will be impressed!

Enjoy!

Coffee Art

2008-03-14T07:41:00.001+08:00

For my coffee lover blogger friends ....... have one on me!!

There is a restaurant in Vancouver

.....actually three

.....where they dress up the lattes.

........ you get to watch them create the pictures.

What can be done with coffee, cream, milk & imagination.

Too good to drink!

The Snoring Hubby

2008-03-13T06:30:00.005+08:00

Does your hubby snore? Can you sleep when he snores?

Well, my hubby snores, and it gets really bad when he is very tired. Which is like every week night coz he works such long hours.

So what should wives do when the snoring affects them?

Buy those special pillows that cost an arm and a leg. Believe me, it does not work.

Wear ear plugs. This does not work either coz you are in such close proximity, and ear plugs arent the most comfortable thing to wear when sleeping.

Sew a pocket at the back of his sleep shirt and put a ball there, coz research has shown that sleeping on the side stops the snoring. Not true. Even when he is on his side he still snores.

Actually, I think there is eally no cure to that snoring when they are really tired. Even my son snores when he is really tired. So what can we do short of sleeping in another room?

Well, I make sure I am sound asleep before he even starts to snore. So, in my slumber, I dont even hear that snoring. Alternatively, treat it like a "white noise" which can lull you to sleep. You just have to psycho yourself that the snore is a white noise and soon you will have no problems sleeping!!

Rant

2008-03-12T06:30:00.003+08:00

Sorry, just feel the need to get it out of the system!

I dont undrstand why when I talk nicely to the kids they refuse to respond. I have to shout and scream and threaten before I get any action. It can be something as simple as do your homework first before watching TV. That has been my rule all along. Its not that they dont know it. I think they are just trying their luck. And they will sit there like logs refusing to move until I explode.

Also, its not that they dont know sweet wrappers and chewing gum belong in the bin? Come on, thats common sense. Yet, I still find it stuck in between the sofa, behind the sofa, in my shoe, in between the books on the bookshelf, under the table, on the floor, etc. Everywhere but the bin! I have to really threatened NOT to buy them anymore if it continues then it stops for a couple of days. You know, I have to clear the fridge every couple of days of sweet wrappers and trash. Why cant they just put trash where it belongs. I am sure that is taught at school!!

Why, oh why?

Just yesterday, I heard my son threatening little D to move away from the TV (as she was blocking him) or he would hit her. When I scolded him for threatening her, he said it was because I threaten him too, so he is just doing the same. Sigh.

But isnt it different? He is old enough to understand and take instructions. And he has his responsibilities. But he refuses to do my bidding until I threaten him. Why cant he just obey me? I always reiterate the rules, I always ask him nicely first, but he still refuses to listen. I have even gone to the extent of saying: "N! I am talking to you nicely. Please do as you are told or do you want me to get nasty?" Sometime it works, sometimes it doesnt.

Why cant I just get him to obey and observe certain rules. I am becoming a "bully" and a tyrant because of him. Any suggestions on how to solve this?

Starting Young

2008-03-11T12:27:00.003+08:00

"You dont have to drive me to school anymore."

My friends have warned me that I would hear that when my kids got older. Kids, who thought that their parents were "not cool" or did not want to be seen being ferried around by their parents, or those who did not want their parents anywhere near school. Since all my kids are pretty young, with the oldest not even out of primary school, I never thought that I would hear that phrase - not so soon at least. But I did, last week.

My daughter said it to me. And this was how our conversation went:

Hmmm. Dont you want to go to school anymore? I asked

Of course I do! But you dont have to drive me anymore.

Then how are you going?

I will go to school with my friends.

How? Are you going on the school bus with them?

No. By car.

Who's going to drive? All of you are too small and cant drive.

Not!

Then who's big enough to drive.

Sarah will drive. She's the biggest of us all. She will drive her mummys car and come to fetch me to school.

I burst out laughing. Sarah sure is the tallest girl in class, but she has not even turned 4. Yes, that was the conversation I had with Little D. It made me wonder -is she growing up too fast for her age or am I so uncool that she doesnt want me driving her to school anymore?

Schools Out

2008-03-07T12:34:00.003+08:00

Yes, the end of term one and the start of a one-week break.

But, what break? A busy, busy week ahead despite the "break".

We have a dental operation on Monday for S (she has to remove 6 teeth),
Make-up mandarin class on Tuesday for both S & N
Interschools chess tournament on Wednesday for S
Enrichment class for both S&N on Thursday (as usual)
Interschools Chess Tournament for N on Friday.

Not counting the homework the school has dished out to the children to be done during the break, portfolios and projects which are due just after the break.
Seems pretty back breaking for me.

Sometimes I wonder why the school call it a term break when the kids still have so much work to do during that time. Cant they just have some time: To stand and stare? To smell the roses? To laze about and be kids? To do nothing?

Looks like the only one that can have a break is little D - but her school is a child-care, so it continues as usual. AND I am so tempted to just send her.

Before I was a Mum..

2008-03-06T07:06:00.005+08:00

Got tagged by bkworm and Jomel. They want to know what I was like before I became a Mum.

So here goes:

Before I was a Mum:

.. I didnt realise that I would actually laugh when I got "sprayed" when changing diapers.

.. I didnt realise how many times a young child / baby could poop in a day.

.. I didnt know that night feeds would make me into a panda! (Just look at my eyes!)

.. I always said I wouldnt use those phrases my mum used on me. But look now! I am sprouting those very same phrases at my kids!

.. I didnt realise that it cost SOOOO MUCH to bring up a child.

.. I didnt know my killer look could stop tantrum throwing kids in their tracks.

.. I had to work long hours. Now, I have no rest days.

.. I never thought I would give up my career to be a full time mum.

.. I could and would spend my money on anything I fancied. Now I spend mostly on the kids, often depriving myself.

.. I hated vegetable stems. Now the kids would only eat the leafy part of greens, and I have grown to love eating vegetable stems.

.. I never thought I was capable of neglecting my grooming, until one day I looked into the mirror - horrors of all horrors - now I try not to let it happen again!!

.. I never really understood the true meaning of Love. Now I do!!

Well, now maybe the following Mums would share with us what they were like before they became a Mum:

Judy
Eastcoastlife
Constance

Fusion Confusion

2008-03-06T06:39:00.003+08:00

I am in the greedy kind of mood, so I thought I should write about food.

Fusion food is simply a combination of several cuisines in one dish. It combines elements of various culinary traditions while not fitting specifically into any. It was made popular in places like California and in large metropolitan areas in the 1970s, by legendary food icons like Wolfgang Puck.

Now, it looks like it is resurfacing in Singapore. Some brave chefs from a couple of restuarants are offering it. Some fusion dishes include: pasta with ikura and salmon sashimi, baked spicy pineapple rasam, gulab jamun cheesecake. Some of the creations of our local chefs include: cold pulot hitam with coconut ice cream, roast suckling pig with foie gras, chilly crab spaghetti.

At one stage, the traditionalist were unhappy that their food was being "pariah-rised". They felt (and still do) that ingredients from different world cuisines should never meet on the same plate.

Have you tried it? There are some that are done so well, that I feel we should not condemn it. Why discourage chefs from letting their creative juices flow? I dont find it a "confusion".

I say: If their creations can tantalise my taste buds, just bring it on!!

Now I feel like going out to indulge myself at one of these restaurants. I hope this post did not trigger cravings in my friend bp.

:)

Parent Teacher Meeting

2008-03-05T07:03:00.004+08:00

Went to N's school yeaterday for a Parent-Teacher Meeting. In his school, they have this meeting at the end of the first term to update parents on how their child has been settling in and performing in school.

I usually go alone for all these sessions as work constraints usually does not permit hubby to come along. However, I was surprised when hubby said he was going to come along yesterday. When we were there, we were really surprised to see how many pairs of parents were at these meetings. (I never used to notice, but since we were early, we kapo'd a bit). There were many fathers there!!

There has been quite a lot written recently about how the more fathers are actively involved in the upbringing of the children, the better the children turn out. The male figure is often the absent figure in the household due to work demands. And, if someone has to stop work to stay home, it is usually the mum that does it. It could be because of the mother and child bonding that started even before the baby was born. It is could also be due to the glass ceiling many ladies face at work. So logically, the one that can bring home more stays at work.

But whatever it is, it was a welcome sight seeing so many fathers taking an active interest in their child's work.

And, I was glad hubby was free to come along with me this time.

Mystery of the Disappearing ......

2008-03-04T09:19:00.005+08:00

.... Utensils.

Do you have that problem? I do. Every so often, my kitchen utensils go missing. This has been so after I had help at home.

The most common item lost is the vegetable peeler. It goes missing, no, it should read: "lost for good" every two to three weeks. Now I buy them by the dozen that the uncle at the shop thinks I am in business. My guess is that the helpers forget to set it aside after skinning the vegetables, and wraps and disposes them with the peel. However, they deny it. Where else could it have gone? I never had that problem when I had no help because I consciously put it aside every time after I use it. I would wash and keep it even before I dispose the vegetable peel.

I would say that is not so much of a mystery. The real mystery to me is my missing dessert forks and spoons. Every time before I host guests at home, I have to check that I have sufficient dessert forks and spoons. There is never enough even though everytime there is a sale, I would stock up on these. 10 of each at a time. I really dont understand how they can go walking away on its own, but it is always the case. Cant find any teaspoons or dessert forks.

Tell me: Is there a monster in my house that loves eating kitchen utensils?? Do you have that same monster in your home too?

:)

My Sniffer Dogs

2008-03-03T09:59:00.005+08:00

Sniffer dogs are dogs that are trained to use its sense of smell to detect, search and hunt for things such like illegal drugs, explosives, fruits, and even missing humans. One notable quality of sniffer dogs is that they are able to discern individual scents even when the scents are combined or masked by other odours.

In the hunt for the escaped fugitive (in my previous post) sniffer dogs were also used. So, in my hunt for Kopi Soh, I have decided to use my own sniffer dogs:

Hopefully, they will be able to sniff her, or even lure her out.

:)

Manhunt

2008-03-02T15:37:00.004+08:00

Everyone knows that there is a manhunt now going on in Singapore for an escaped detainee, Mas Selamat Kastari. He is dangerous, as he has shown malicious intent previously. Leader of the JI in Singapore, he escaped from the police detention centre on Whitley Road on 27 Febraury 2009 at about 4.30pm, and everyone here is on the look out for him, and awaiting his re-arrest. He is 1.58m and walks with a limp. More information can be found on the Interpol website. Anyone with information on his whereabouts are to contact the Singapore Police or the Police in their country.

Here, in the blogging world there is also a manhunt for one Kopi Soh, also known as Firehorse. Her last post was viewed on 29 Febraury 2009, sounding very sad on her blogspot. She suddenly disappeared together with her blog on 1 March 2008. She has long hair, which her hairdresser recently refused to colour. Looks like quite a sexy momma to me. Any one with information leading to her contactability will be rewarded with Kopi.

Please, provide infromation if you are aware of the whereabouts of these two very wanted people!

(ps Kopi soh - sorry to put you in same category as Mat Selamat - but everyone is looking for you too!!)

Foot Reflexology

2008-03-01T14:48:00.003+08:00

Foot reflexology is considered by some to be just a foot massage.

What is reflexology?
Reflexology is a science that deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all of the organs and systems in the body.

Many proponents claim that foot reflexology can cleanse the body of toxins, increase circulation, assist in weight loss, and improve the health of organs throughout the body. Others have reported success in treating earaches, anemia, bedwetting, bronchitis, convulsions in an infant, hemorrhoids, hiccups, deafness, hair loss, emphysema, prostate trouble, heart disease, overactive thyroid gland, kidney stones, liver trouble, rectal prolapse, undescended testicles, intestinal paralysis, cataracts, and hydrocephalus (a condition in which an excess of fluid surrounding the brain can cause pressure that damages the brain).However, there is no scientific support for these assertions.

I started going for these foot massages just at the start of this year. I sort of stumbled (no pun intended) into it. Just the other day, when the reflexologist massaged a particular part of my left foot, the pain was excruciating. I told him about it, and he said it indicated a problem with my digestive system. He said that I should try to avoid shellfish, seafood and meat, but to eat more fish instead. He indicated that I had eaten too much "good stuff" over the CNY period.

When I got home, I told hubby what the reflexologist said, and he said: You mean to say you believe him??

Well, what he said corresponds to what my last blood test indicated - high cholesterol, - and to avoid shellfish in particular. So, why shouldnt I believe him, right?

But a week later, I went for another foot massage. This time a different guy massaged my feet. Again there was an excruciating pain in a particular part of my left foot. When I mentioned it, he said that it indicated a heart (??!?) problem. And when he got to my right foot, he told me that I had a problem with my right knee, and I had to make sure I took care of it.

Now, I really dont know whether to believe them or not? My cardiologist told me my heart was fine after a ecg test coupled with the treadmill test just 9 months ago. Also, I have never had problems with my knees.

So that got me thinking. Does he know something that I dont? Maybe, hubby was right afterall: I cant believe what they tell me. But one thing I know for sure: I sleep very well after every visit!!

Reality Check

2008-02-29T07:01:00.004+08:00

This post is especially for my dear blogger friend, bkworm. It is meant to help her overcome her Pre-Monday Grouching next week. Read on:

When you have a "I Hate My Job" day, try this:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson.

Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed.

Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair.

Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement:

"Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized".

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times,"I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control at Johnson & Johnson."

HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE BUTT THAN YOURS!

(But for those of us who still have little yucky butts to wipe, I guess we just have to bear with it!)

Have a great weekend, and no more pre-monday grouching, bkworm!!

:)

God's Magnificent Creation

2008-02-27T14:34:00.004+08:00

Only God could create something as beautiful as this!

What is it?

It's the Parrot Flower, found in Thailand.

Amazing, isnt it??

:)

God's Clues

2008-02-26T10:22:00.016+08:00

Before God made the world and everything on it, he knew what he wanted each for. But he wasn't sure the humans that he put on it would fully understand what it was for. So, he left clues for us:

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and Yes, science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemica l cons tituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well as to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes

Interesting isn't it?

:)

Holidays

2008-02-25T09:50:00.003+08:00

Everyone tells me that this is the best time to be going on vacation to Japan and the US.

Why? Because of the strong Singapore dollar!

Comparatively, everything will be much cheaper. I drool when I think of taking a holiday in Japan - the food, the supermarts, the fresh air, the cherry blossoms in early April, the graciousness of the people. I love holidays in Japan, but it is a country that I have all along considered expensive. Hotels are expensive, and now with 5 in the family, we are no longer able to fit into one hotel room. The food is expensive, but so fresh and delicious. It's a joy to shop in Japan - the quality of the goods and the service is second to none. I guess, it's the price you have to pay for it.

I have not been back to the US for a long time. I could spend days just shopping at the discount outlets, or maybe, with the strong dollar, I can actually shop on 5th Avenue. There's friends to visit and also places that I would like to bring the children to - like Disney World and Epcot Center(Orlando), Kennedy Space Centre (Florida), Washington DC for its numerous museums, Broadway Shows in NY City, Vermont for its foliage ....... the list is endless.

However, my daughter is in P6 this year, so I guess all travel plans have to be shelved until after her crucial exams in October. By then, I just hope that the Singdollar is still as strong! Meanwhile, I will just dream of holidaying in these places ...... zzZzzZZZzz.

World Youth Olympics

2008-02-21T19:35:00.003+08:00

Yes, Singapore has won the bid to host the inaugural World Youth Olympics in 2010.

Signapore pipped Moscow to the honour of hosting the World Youth Olympics. Such wonderful news, as it shows that the IOC has the confidence in our ability to do the job well.

It is such an honour for a small little nation to be given this task!

Yippee!!! Hooray!

Pop goes the...

2008-02-21T09:44:00.002+08:00

.

...button!

It started off with the year-end school holidays, then it was the Christmas and other celebrations during December, then it was Chinese New Year. After all that feasting, celebrating and excesses, the trousers feel tighter, I cant button my jeans,(no the picture above is not of me!!) and just this morning the button on my capri popped off as I sat down to breakfast!

Guess, after today the celebrations are over. It's time to hit the treadmill, and back to having rabbit food and oatmeal for breakfast.

:)

Christian "Lohei"

2008-02-21T06:30:00.004+08:00

I know today is the last day of the CNY, but I just received this in an email, and I thought that this is definitely a must share. Last chance to use it today, until next year, that is.

It is meant for the modern christian chinese who are not to familiar with what they have to say when they do the lohei themselves. Good for the peranakans amongst us too!

CHRISTIAN 'LO HEI'

Red envelope which contains pepper:
Praise the Lord, for peppering us with loving kindness

Green envelope which contains five-spice powder:
Praise the Lord, for accepting our labour as a fragrant offering to His plan

Fish:
Praise the Lord, for the grace of God to be fishers of men

Oil:
Praise the Lord, for the oil that keeps us burning in this fight of faith
Or
Praise the Lord, for anointing us with the oil of joy (Psalm 45:7)

Plum Sauce:
Praise the Lord, for the sweetness of Your Word sweeter than honey to my mouth (Psalm 119:103)

Crackers:
Praise the Lord, for the street of pure gold that you have prepared for us to live in eternity (Revelation 21:21)

Happy "Lohei"ing!

Computer problem?

2008-02-20T06:55:00.005+08:00

I have been blog hopping for the past couple of days and noticed that nobody has updated their blog. Everyone's blog had not been updated for at least 3 days. Strange, I thought. There are some I know, who would only skip a day at most. Fortunately, I decided, after 3 days that this could not be so and decided to click the refresh button on the page. Hey presto! All the current post for that blog came up. So, every blog page that I go to, I have to click refresh now. 3 days of posts to catch up on now!

What is wrong?? Never had this problem recently. Looks like my internet explorer is playing tricks on me again.

Dental Fear

2008-02-19T06:54:00.002+08:00

She had a bad dental experience when young. The dentist made a wrong call when she chipped a tooth. As a result, she had to undergo a root canal at the tender age of 7. Coupled with a small jaw, she ended up with a very crowded mouth. Misaligned teeth resulted in her top teeth impacting her bottom. At age 9, some of her bottom teeth became shaky!!

A change of dentist came with the need to remove 4 teeth. With the fear as a result of her previous dental experience, she had to remove them under general anaesthesia. The fear is still there. No one is allowed near her mouth, except for this new dentist. Even if she has a shaky tooth, she will not allow anyone near it, not even to just pull it out.

Last night, in her sleep, one shaky tooth fell out!! Discovered it this morning. Good thing she did not swallow it.

In one and a half weeks, she has another dental appointment. Her jaw is really too crowded. She needs to remove another 4 teeth. We will decide then, whether she still needs to go under GA.

Please pray for her to be strong and overcome her fear. If not, it will be another $3000 out of my pocket.

The Innocent Man

2008-02-18T06:16:00.000+08:00

I have been a big fan of John Grisham books from the time I read his 1st book. He is an American, a former politician, a retired attorney turned writer and he specialises in writing legal thrillers.

His latest book, The Innocent Man is his 1st non-fiction book. It chronicles the story of Ron Williamson, and how he was charged and convicted of a crime he did not commit. It sent shivers down my spine as it showed how an innocent man was framed and charged with murder, and even went to "Death Row", saved only at the last minute. It was a compelling read, that kept me up late at night, turning the pages of the book, stopping only when my eyelids could take it no more. A must read for those who enjoy legal thrillers and court room drama.

How many innocent people are "convicted" everyday, by their governments, spouses, family etc for crimes they did not commit, for things they did not do? To them, I say: Be strong. You will find justice one day.

God Bless!

Animal Pics

2008-02-16T06:23:00.008+08:00

Just thought that I would share with you some pics which my friend sent me:

All together now: Awwwwwww!
Have a great weekend!

Am I losing it?? Updated

2008-02-15T12:53:00.005+08:00

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been very busy preparing for the Chinese New Year. As a result, i have not been reading the newspapers much, as well as not doing my daily sudoku.

Just yesterday, I attempted the Sudoku in the Today newspaper. Only 3 stars. Piece of cake, I thought. Should not take more than 5 minutes.

Guess what?? I could not solve all of it!! Today, I attempted the 4 star one. After 10 minutes, I still could not complete it. I had to put it aside as I had a meeting to attend.

What's happening? Am I losing my mental faculties. Previously, I only attempted those that had at least 4 stars and 5 minutes was the max I would take to solve it. Now even 3 stars I can't do!!

On another matter - I used to be quite a type A personality.

[Type A personality, also known as the Type A Behavior Pattern, is a set of characteristics that includes being impatient, excessively time-conscious, highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, and incapable of relaxation. Type A individuals are often high-achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about the smallest of delays.]

For me then: Everything must be done in good time, properly. No missing of deadlines. Perfectionist. Everything in their proper keeping place. But I noticed, now, the more I am home with the kids, the more I let things slide. "Sudah, la! Not everything can be perfect!" That's my attitude nowadays. True, with kids. We cannot expect to be on top of everything. Murphy's law is bound to rare its ugly head. Previously, cannot take it should it happen. Now: OK, la. Pineapple tarts not perfect also Ok. As long as edible right?

But the problem is: The house is falling apart!! The house is a big mess! Previously, I would be constantly clearing up. Putting things in its proper place. I would know where everything and anything is. Others mess up, I would just clear it to its place. Now I dont't. Nobody can find the stapler when they need it, because I dont bother to put it in its proper place when others leave it lying around. Ditto for the ear digger, and at times the nail clipper. But if I was using it, of course, I would put it back in its proper place.

The table is a mess. Tonight we are having guests over for dinner. Hubby said: Maybe should try to clear away some of the mess. Me: Never mind, la. Not show flat. Instead I am blogging. (hee! hee!) Now messiness is part of life for me.

Looks like it is true that if we dont use it, we will lose it! Looks like I have lost part of my type A personality! And soon mental ability as well!

Guess what? - After I finished this post, I went back to my sudoku puzzle. I finished it in less than 5 minutes. Yay!! I am getting back into the swing of things. Now to attempt today's 5 star puzzle!

=)

Budget Day - Updated

2008-02-15T06:35:00.003+08:00

Today is budget day in Singapore.

For the many years, this day has been sort of like another Christmas day for many in Singapore. Businesses and many (working) individuals receive goodies and tax cuts from the Finance Minister. Unfortunately, for Stay-At-Home Mums like me, we have not received a single treat.

It has always been said that my "profession" is the noblest of all professions, as we make huge sacrifices, give up well-paid jobs and perks, for a 24/7 job that pays us zilch. Our husbands have to work twice as hard to provide for the family. We do away with a lot of luxuries which we would otherwise be able to afford had we not made this choice.

Research has shown that children of SAHMs tend to be better behaved, give less problems and are more well adjusted. So, despite all this, why are we always the forgotten ones when the budget comes along?

So far, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said it will be a "Progressive Budget" with something for everyone, and to take the country forward. (source CNA)

I really hope there is truth in that statement, coz, everyone must mean everyone including SAHMs like me.

I am not asking for much. Even if you are not able to give us direct hand-outs, at least, reward us for moulding our future leaders by giving our husbands a bigger tax rebate. Then we know you really mean everyone when you say it.

Update: Absolutely nothing for us poor SAHMs again. Looks like he doesnt understand the meaning of the word "everyone". Dictionary.com defines it as: every person; everybody. Which means no body is excluded. So how come SAHMs are excluded again. Do we not count? Next time, dont get our hopes up and make empty promises. Upset :(

Amazing Race Asia Season 2

2008-02-15T06:08:00.007+08:00

I caught the last leg of the race last evening, and I must say it was a thrilling, nail-biting finish.

We were rooting for Adrian and Collin. These 2 young men, hail from Singapore, but that was not the main reason we were hoping they would win. You see, Adrian is hearing impaired. This team demonstrated no sign of "kiasuness" despite being Singaporeans (gasp!). They were most patient with each other and truly demonstrated what teamwork was all about.

At the start of this final leg, the 2 hunks from Phillipines (Mark & Rovilson) started off the leg first, with the Singapore boys leaving second, and the 2 beauties (Pamela & Vanessa) from Malaysia 3rd. The final leg brought them to Singapore, which had all three teams neck to neck as all three were on the same flight that brought them back here.

When they had to make their way to the the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Singapore boys were so close to overtaking M&R, but when they stopped to retieve their clue, they failed to get their cab to wait for them! They lost precious time there as they were unable to hail a cab for quite some time. (I guess that was before they raised cab fares in Singapore) Even the P&V overtook them. M&R were in the lead most of the time in this leg of the race.

However, in the last task of the race, the "road block" which required one player from each team to perform the task, finally decided the winner. The task was to place the flags of each country, in order of the countries they visited, from the 1st leg of the race to the end.

M&R had a very good lead as they got there early. P&V were next. However, as they fumbled with the flags, A&C arrived for the task. Adrian got down to the task. He showed his knowledge of the flags of the world, and with ease he placed them. He was soon done with the task and A&C raced to the finish line, with the other 2 teams still trying to decipher which flags were from which country!. A&C came in 1st!!

Congrats A&C. You have made Singapore proud whilst enjoying yourself on the race. You have also proved that disabled does not mean unable! Well done!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T06:52:00.006+08:00

*

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In North America, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. ......... source Wikipedia

My definition of Valentine's Day is:
A day that florists, confectioners, and Hallmark go laughing all the way to the bank. It is also a day when people spend lots of hard-earned money at restuarants for "so-so" food at exhorbitant prices just to try to show the love of their life that they are important to them.

It is also a day where the unattached, or those without any suitors, are made to feel more aware of their status.

As you can see, I dont quite believe in celebrating Valentine's Day. I feel that you can show your love everyday, and you should. Flowers, chocolates, cards and dinners are welcome all day, everyday! No need to wait for that one day to spend more than necessary to show it.

Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I remember Sister Valentine - a fat jolly nun in my school that was in charge of a CCA called "Joyful Vanguard" and she taught music. She hailed from Ireland, and always had funny stories to share. She was always around to help the younger children settle into school. How we enjoyed going to her music studio in the nun's quarters, as she always had some goodies stashed away for those of us who visited her. Sister V has since returned to join the Lord. I remember you Sister V!

*

Why dont they dress their age?

2008-02-13T06:21:00.002+08:00

I know of some ladies, no, no I should call them women, that refuse to dress their age. Let me share with you:

There is this woman I know, she is 57 years old, about to be a mother-in-law, and do you know what she wears? Well, when she came to my home for CNY to pai nian (she works for F-I-L), she was wearing tights and a pink baby doll style blouse! When I saw her, the first thing I thought was - what? Is she having a mid-life crisis? Her dressing looked like one of those "kawaii" harajuku kids. Only that she is not! She has a son that is almost 30 years old, so why is she dressing like that? This is not the first time. The previous time I saw her, she was wearing a layered ruffled skirt made of lace and a tube top. Something that would appeal to my daughter "S". I dont even want to think about all the other times when we had a good laugh about her dressing.

There is another woman that I see in school whenever I pick my kids home. Her youngest son is the same age as "S", so she cant be that young (unless she started really early). My guess is she is mid to late 40s. M-i-l thinks she must be at least 50. Once, she was wearing this "retro" looking dress that ended some 8 inches above the knees (i.e mid-thigh). Her face looked like from the Sakura Ting era, and so was her dressing. Yesterday, she was wearing this black dress with red polka dots (the size of mandarin oranges), ala Bozo the clown style - with a huge collar. Sometimes she comes in boots. Yes, in this hot Singapore weather!

What's with these women? I keep asking myself: Why do they do it? Why cant they just age gracefully, and wear something more modest and befitting their age?

Is it me? - Am I a sour puss? Just because I know I will never be caught dead in one of those outfits, I just cant accept others my age (or older) wearing it? Am I too old-fashioned and ultra-conservative?

Or is it them?? Mind you, these are not those "ah sohs" who are not in touch with fashion. They deem themselves up-to-date and trendy, and travel frequently to the fashion capitals of the world. But look what they come back with?!??

I would like to think the problem is with them!! Sometimes I wish the fashion police would take photos of them and post them in magazines in the "what not to wear" section! I must admit though, that they always give me a good laugh!

Sentosa Flower Show 2008

2008-02-12T06:25:00.000+08:00

Every year, on the 2nd day of the Lunar New Year, our family will, instead of visiting relatives, do some "child friendly" activities with our children. For the past few years we have visited the various museums in Singapore (Art, History, Asian Civilisation Museum) and the zoo.

This year we opted for :

This is Singapore's largest flower festival, and it showcases over one million blooms of more than one thousand species.

We ventured out early, to get a head start, as well as to avoid the scorching afternoon sun. Here are some of the photos taken at the Flower Show:
Little D infront of the word "Chun" meaning spring, made entirely out of flowers

S,N and D in front of "mice eating rice'

Swans made completely out of blooms.

There were also other very popular "pavilions" at the flower show, namely the sunflower pavilion which featured hundreds of sunflowers, as well as one specially for Valentines Day, where blooms were arranged into heart shapes. However the queue to those were way too long, so we did not bother joining them just for a photo shot. Orchid lovers will also not be disappointed as there were so many varities featured and all were in full bloom!

Well, if you have the time and enjoy flowers, a visit to this flower will not leave you disappointed. It runs until 17 February and is located at the Imbiah Lookout, just beneath the giant Merlion on Sentosa Island.

*** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * *** * ***

I can tell Little D loves flowers. After we went for our 1st reunion this year, I asked her the next day what she liked about dinner. Her reply was: The flowers!!
I must admit that the flowers that they had were very tastefully displayed.

Just yesterday, I mentioned that I had to throw away the roses that had already withered. She refused to let me do it. She told me: "Mummy, those flowers are not dead! They are just looking at the floor."

New Year Gifts

2008-02-11T09:11:00.000+08:00

Every year for CNY the children will receive gifts from FIL in addition to the usual ang pow. This year this is what they got:

A year of the Rat money box:

And, Coins issued by the Singapore Mint to commerate the Year of the Rat

These commerative coins feature one coin of each denomination used in Singapore.

S, N and D

2008-02-10T07:09:00.000+08:00

Just last week, my daughter told me: I dont like to be called "S" on your blog.

Why? Because "S" is for smartypants and you are the smart one around here, I teased her.

And DiDi is called "N" because he is the naughty boy around the house?

Yes, and Mei Mei, Little D is because she is such a little Darling.

Boy! she wasnt pleased!

Actually, she's "S" because, since young I have always called her my "sweetiepie"!

12 years ago

2008-02-10T06:56:00.001+08:00

In February 1996, the Chinese and the Muslims both celebrated the most important festivals of their calendar year back to back. Yes, in that year, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa were celebrated in the month of February. We in Singapore, including our neighbours, Malaysia, were so lucky as we had a super long weekend.

We had the Chinese New Year public holiday on the Monday and Tuesday, followed by the Hari Raya Holiday on the Wednesday. It was a double celebration for everyone! I remember that year distinctively, as on the 3rd day of the lunar new year, our family had another reason to celebrate. It marked the arrival of our eldest daughter.

This bundle of joy arrived after 6 years of marriage, and we had really looked forward to her arrival. Without doubt, she was pampered by both hubby and me.

Now, every year, she never fails to remind us of her chinese birthday, and she will request for "mee sua and eggs" for her breakfast. Lucky her, her chinese birthday is one the family never forgets!

Home Cooked Feast

2008-02-07T06:00:00.000+08:00

We had our second reunion dinner last night. With my B-i-l and his family now living in Perth, there are only 13 of us left, which means we can all fit around the dining table at home. Previously, with 16, we would load the childrens' plates with food, and they would adjourn to a smaller table, whilst the adults sat around the main dining table.

M-i-l, as usual, cooked up her "must-have" CNY reunion dishes. Here's a sampling of the dishes:

Chilli king prawns. The chinese love to serve prawns for the reunion dinner, as it is called "har" in cantonese which sounds like Laughter.

Meat balls. The round meatballs symbolises a complete family.

Chicken curry. A dish the family loves to have.

Fried Chicken Wings. Another favourite of the children!

Chap Chye. A vegetable dish to add fibre to our meal.

Kong Bak. A hokkien dish which the family enjoys having with buns.

Fried Pek tor. This fish is a "must-have" for teochews. It used to be available only during the CNY period (before they started farming it) and the fish at this time of the year, usually comes with the roe or egg. The chinese serve fish because the word "fish" in mandarin sounds similar to the word "abundance".

Leeks with sea cucumber. This is also a required dish for all teochew families during the CNY as they believe it would bring wealth. The name of the vegetable, "sng", sounds like the teochew word "count".

Fu Kwey Cai with Mushrooms, abalone and black moss. An auspicious chinese new year dish. This year we opted for this dish instead of the treasures pot, as m-i-l did not want to put in the "seo bak".

A few other dishes I forgot to take photos of were the fried noodles (for long life), the soup, and the spring rolls.

And for dessert, sweet yam. This hokkien dish is quite similar to the teochew "or nee" or yam paste, only that the yam is chunkier.

I hope with these photos, you managed to enjoy our meal with us!!

What are the must-have CNY dishes for your family?

Greetings from Little D

2008-02-06T07:47:00.000+08:00

Little D requested that I post this photo of hers on the blog. She simply loves seeing her photos posted up here.

This photo was taken yesterday, just before she went to school for her CNY party.

Little D wishes all readers of this blog:
"Xin Nian Kuai Le
Wan Shi Ru Yi!"

Drama Mama

2008-02-04T09:50:00.000+08:00

Brought the kids shopping last week whilst hubby had his hair-cut. We were at Far East Plaza, a place recommended to me by my friend Rita, when I told her that I was looking for a bag for my daughter. Most of those that I see in the shops were either inappropriate for her age group (read: too expensive), or too childish with cartoon characters.

I was told that this was a hip and happening place for teens and those in their early twenties. And, with my girl growing up, this was where I should start looking for things that she would like. When we got there, the place was packed!! We looked around in the maze-like place, and lost track of the time. She managed to find something she liked. In fact, too many! Whilst we were making up our mind on which to buy, hubby called to say he was on the way to get us. So, no choice, had to be quick, as traffic around there is a nightmare, and he could not possibly wait for us.

Just as we decided on what we wanted, Little D said that she had to go! I quickly rushed her to the nearest loo, leaving the other 2 kids in the shop. It was packed. There were at least 5 others ahead of us in the queue. So, guess what? I put on my drama mama act and said to Little D in a fairly loud voice: "Oh Dear! The queue is so long. Can you wait? Can you not do it in your pants? There are only 5 people in front of us. You can wait right? Right?"

The ladies in the queue turned around and looked. When the next cubicle became available, the first lady in the queue turned to me and said: "You better bring your little girl in first."

I quickly looked at all the other ladies in the queue and said: "I hope you all dont mind if she goes first. I dont think she can hold it any longer."

Luckily, they all smiled and nodded their heads.

When we came out, Little D said "thank you" to all the aunties still waiting in the queue and gave them her sweetest smile.

We then rushed back to the shop, paid for the bags, and rushed out just in time to catch hubby.

A little drama paid off for us. If you were one of the ladies in the queue: Thank you for letting Little D go to the loo first. And, sorry about the drama that helped you make that decision!

PS - Mums, next time you know what to do if you are rushing and need to use the loo pronto!!

In preparation for CNY

2008-02-04T05:52:00.000+08:00

For our family, a CNY must have is pineapple tarts. We all enjoy eating it as the pastry can be crunchy (like a biscuit) or the melt in the mouth sort. That coupled with the sweet (and sometimes slightly sourish taste) of the pineapple, makes it a delightful snack.

So, in preparation for CNY, we got our production line started making our favourite goodie:
The kids happily rolling out and cutting the dough

The pastry cases before the pineapple is added

N patiently glazing the pineapple tarts

The finished product.

F-i-l is the oldest in his family. As a result, we have all his brothers, sisters and their families visiting us over the CNY. So, we have to make sure there is sufficient food and drinks for all. When I was at the supermart buying the drinks, someone commented that I was starting a kopitiam. No, I am not going to compete with kopisoh for her business. But just drinks alone, this is how much we bought:

This is in addition to the traditional longan tea which we serve.

What do you think? Can open kopitiam or not?

Only Breasts??

2008-02-02T13:31:00.000+08:00

No, this is not an x-rated post!

We had lunch at a fast food restaurant this afternoon. This place specialises in chicken. After hubby ordered the food and brought it to our table, I was surprised that there was no chicken drumsticks or maryland in the serve. Those are the parts which Little D and I enjoy. They only had chicken breasts - Yucks!

But why? The counter staff could not give a reason, except that they didnt have any of the other parts. I remember some 3 to 4 week back, there was an article in the newspapers that said that this same fast food chain was not serving any white meat (ie chicken breasts and wings) as their stocks of it had run out. This, I thought, was very unusual.

I remember many years ago, I had heard from a chicken supplier that this restaurant chain was very specific in their requests. They wanted only chickens of a certain size and they were to be cut up in a specific manner. This I could understand as they wanted to serve a standard size for every serving. So what has happened now?

From what I know, everytime they sell a serve of chicken they always give a mix of chicken parts. They are usually very reluctant to accomodate your requests for certain chicken parts only. So, they could not have sold out all of a certain part, right? Could their buying department have screwed up so badly? - ie by ordering too much of a certain chicken part at the expense of others due to poor projection of demand?

We also noted that the chicken pieces served were more flavoured than usual - it tasted more peppery. Were they trying to mask something? I dont know!! I sure hope they were not serving genetically modified chickens that grew more than one chicken breast!! Looks like we will not be visiting them anytime in the near future. Naturally, I did not enjoy the meal. The only one that did was hubby, as he is a "breast man".

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2008-02-01T05:44:00.000+08:00

A slow week?

2008-01-30T06:53:00.001+08:00

It's the week before CNY and there are loads to do. I have been busy all week so far. I have kept 2 appointments and attended a meeting on top of my usual schedule. Yet this week feels to be passing by so slowly. Why?

It just dawned on me. It is because there is something missing in my life. There has been less quarelling around the house, there has been less clothes to pick up. Even though it makes it a little easier for me, with one less to worry about, one less to nag at, it makes my life feel empty. Is it the case of the empty nest syndrome?

Must be! My nest is less crowded as my older daughter, S, is at school camp. Last year, when she went to school camp, we were worried for her, as it was her first time away from home without us. We talked about her in her absence, and even contemplated visiting her. But she came home, all happy after an enjoyable time. This time round, she was actually looking forward to going to camp. Also with our busy schedule, we did not even have time to talk about her in her absence.

She will be home today. I guess it's the case of "absence makes the heart grow fonder"!

Amazing!

2008-01-30T06:46:00.000+08:00

Can you believe it - this picture was drawn in a single stroke!! Incredible!

Forever Friends

2008-01-28T06:29:00.000+08:00

Received this Forever Friends Award from Sweetiepie. Thanks sweetiepie for giving me the award and being my friend!

It says:
A Ball is a Circle, no beginning, no end.
It keeps us together like a circle of friends
But the treasure inside for you to see
Is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

So today, I am passing the friendship ball to some new friends and some "old" friends:

iml
ag
bp
kopisoh

Thank you all for being my friend!!

An early reunion

2008-01-27T06:50:00.000+08:00

Every Chinese New Year a reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve, where members would gather for a meal. Family members, even those living afar, would travel home for this important celebration.

This year, the family had an early reunion. This is so as my brother-in-law and his family moved to Australia last year. Last year, they made the trip home for the Chinese New Year, and as a result, his daughter missed school for close to a week. When they got back, the parents received a shelling from the principal!! So, this year, going against custom, they decided that they cannot be around for the reunion dinner on the actual day, as school only reopens on 4 Feb.

So, last evening, our group of 16 went out for dinner. We were really fortunate that the restaurant we chose had a table big enough to accomodate all of us. The food was good but the service was slow. The children were really hungry. We were all there by about 7 pm. but were only served out first dish at about 7.20pm. However, we had to wait until 825 for the 2nd dish. By then, you could tell, the children could hardly take the wait any longer. I guess, that's the problem with eating out.

M-i-l being the traditionalist, would still be cooking a feast on the actual new year's eve with all of her "must have" dishes (which was why we chose to eat out last evening). So, we would still get to enjoy the traditional NY's eve dinner, but I guess it will be a quieter affair with less of the "clan" around.

Food for thought

2008-01-26T15:26:00.000+08:00

Received this from a friend, and thought that I should share it.

"The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect."

A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -

porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking,

some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.

In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases, even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups."

Now consider this, said the professor, "Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups.

They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee life has provided us. Enjoy your coffee!"

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

Four things to take note of in life:

1. Live simply

2. Love generously

3. Care deeply

4. Speak kindly

Shine a light & enjoy your Coffee!

Where is that Cockroach?

2008-01-25T08:35:00.000+08:00

Last evening when I was having my shower, I spied a cockroach in the corner of my bathroom. It did not move at all, so I left it alone and continued my shower. After I was done, armed with my bottle of insect killer, I attacked it.

First, I gave it a small dose of the "odourless all insect killer". It then started crawling in a drunkard manner. I gave it more of that special dose, and it then started moving all over the bathroom in a random manner. More "ssst", "ssst" and "ssst". 5 seconds later, it lay dead in a corner. Wow! the new improved formula sure "kills all flying and crawling insects instantly on contact".

When little D came into the bathroom to shower, she totally freaked out when she saw it, even thought it was in the far corner of the bathroom. I had to carry her into the shower and out of it. I left the dead cockroach there, thinking I would clear it later.

However, I forgot! When I woke up the next morning, I noticed that it was no longer lying in the corner. It was nowhere to be found. I assumed that hubby had cleared it. But when I checked with him, he said he did not.

So, what happened to that cockroach? Did it not die from an overdose of that insect killer? (I must have used close to half a bottle!) Or was it just mabuk (drunk) from it, only to wake up from his hangover and walk away?

Maybe I should change brands?

One Year Old Today!!

2008-01-25T06:01:00.000+08:00

Yes, this blog is one year old today. Amazing that I managed to write, post, maintain and update this blog continuously for a whole year, and am enjoying it. Did not quite imagine that when I first started. Thanks everyone for being a part of this blog!

To share or not to share

2008-01-24T06:19:00.000+08:00

Was just commenting to my friend Hw, the other day about our helpers. Everytime m-i-l cooks her delicious "treasures pot" (a hotpot with loads of goodies like dried oysters, sea cucumber, abalone, fish maw, mushrooms, fatt choy, etc), our helpers will conveniently forget to serve it. And if they do, they will just serve out a small portion of it. Why? Because they love to eat it. There was once, we realised that none of us had any of the sea cucumbers coz they had them all!!!

My friend's comment was: I dont share these things with my help. Sorry, I work hard for my money, so I enjoy my goodies myself. As long as I provide them with a decent balanced meal, they cannot complain.

True! But, in my home, m-i-l does not feel good telling the helpers that they are not to eat certain things. They are free to help themselves to all of the food. But, I feel that they have gotten a little out-of-hand. I have even seen them helping themselves to m-i-l's chicken essence soup, even before any one of us has had any! In fact, the only food they do not touch are those that have pork in it. M-i-l is so accomodating that she tries not to cook pork so often, so that the helpers can eat everything that we have. But do you know, they have even pinched "bak hoo" (pork floss) before!

I feel, enough is enough! Sharing with them is one thing, but I think they have gone over-board. They have too much food to eat, that they sometimes refuse to eat left-overs. It accumulates, and accumulates, and get thrown away eventually! As a result, I am very tempted to tell m-i-l to add in a huge piece of seo bak (barbeque pork) into her treasures pot when she cooks it for the reunion dinner.

So, what do you think? To share or not to share?

No tags

2008-01-24T05:42:00.000+08:00

To all those bloggers that have tagged me recently, and not too recently - my apologies. I have not done any of the tags. Have not been in the mood. Maybe sometime down the road.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

2008-01-23T06:14:00.000+08:00

Since I was young, I have always sported short hair. My mom never let me keep my hair long as she always said that it made me look older than I should.(However, I think she just didnt want to have the hassle of tying my hair for me).

The longest I have grown my hair was for my wedding, and that was only a little longer than shoulder length. It was long enough for me then to bun it up too. As a result, I had flowing tresses during the church solemnisation, and a sophisticated bun for the wedding dinner.

However, after the wedding, I cut my hair short again, and I must say, it made me look younger. I also make my girls keep short hair now, as it is easier to manage, and I believe, it makes them look fresher and younger. But girls, being girls, all want to keep their hair long, so that they can tie it up, plait it, etc.

A couple of years back when rebonded hair was the "in-thing", I was again very tempted to grow my hair long. just so I could have it rebonded. However, my hairdresser advised me against it, as I have natural curls, and he said that I would only be wasting my money. I then considered growing it long, and doing a ceramic perm - aaah, those lovely big curls. But again, my hairdresser advised against it. (Hey! looks like he doesnt like to earn my money!)

Time and again, I have eyed girls with long hair, with envy. They can do so many thing with their hair. In the middle of last year, I put my foot down. I told him that I needed to change my hair-do. I was sick and tired of this short hair with which I cant do a thing! So, he agreed to let me grow it. If he hadn't, I would have taken my custom to the very famous "Ah Bu" to the stars, to see what magic he could perform!

I am one person, who gets a hair-cut every 6 to 8 weeks. So dutifully, I have been visiting the hairdresser when the "due date" came along, for my trims. When I went again just before Christmas, he told me that the next visit, would be when we changed my hair do. And that day is tomorrow!

My hair currently isnt all that long, and I doubt he can change the style substantially. But guess what? I think, I will ask him to chop it all off, as I cant stand the hair sticking out here, there and everywhere. I also cant stand the mess I look, with this long hair!! But which short hair-do should I have?

-

So, hair today, gone tomorrow.

Talk about women having fickle minds!!

Our Economy is doing well

2008-01-22T09:07:00.000+08:00

Yes, the prices of most things have gone UP again!!

My daughter was just commenting about how the fishballs in school have shrunk in size, and now noodles only come with 2 (instead of 3) fishballs.

My favourite walnut loaf (bought from one of the hotel pastry shops) went up in price from $8 to $10. Since the price increase, I have decided to forgo having it for breakfast. Even Gardenia's milk loaf has gone up from $1.90 to $2.15.

Yesterday, I went with m-i-l to buy some dry goods. We paid double what we paid last year for some things - eg fish maw was now $48 per kg vs $30 last year.

I shudder to think about the prices of the New Year goodies I have yet to purchase.

Price inflation usually sets in when the economy is doing well. Market sentiments are good, everyone is bullish, property prices have gone up, so everything goes up in tandem. People were spending during the Christmas season like there was no tomorrow, and still are. Top-end restaurants were full. It was the first time I had heard car ads telling people to buy their loved ones a car for Chrismas!! People become more materialistic.

But did wages increase at the same rate as these price increases? I dont think so. Some teachers in my daughter's pre-school commented that they did not get an increment this year. Also, what happens to the lower income group in society? I am sure their wages did not rise in the same proportion as these price increases. They are the ones that suffer as a result.

Should we not be more prudent and not over-indulge? Spend only if necessary.(Makes me sound like a scrooge). I know everyone here is still bullish about everything. But stop! Look at the Dow. Our STI follows it quite closely, and the Dow has been hit recently. With the sub-prime mortgage loan problems in the US, I forsee a recession there soon, and it will move to our shores before we know it. So spend wisely, and save for the future!

What kind of chocolate are You?

2008-01-22T07:12:00.000+08:00

As most of you probably know by now, I am a chocolate lover! So when I was blog hopping and I came across this, I couldnt help but do the quiz. Initially, I thought I should be dark chocolate, coz that's my favourtite, but the results are as follows:

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds.
You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life.
Also nostalgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

So is it correct? Yes and No. I think I am pretty level-headed - definitely not a dreamer. But I do work towards my ideal life, and am often nostalgic. Also, with my elephant memory, I rarely forget anything that is meaningful!

Ironing blues

2008-01-19T06:05:00.001+08:00

I am one person that does not hate ironing. In fact, I enjoy it. I find it kind of theraputic. It gives me time to myself to iron out all those creases. However, since we returned from living in New York, we have had help at home, so I no longer need to do the ironing. You know what? Since then, I have been having ironing blues! Why? I have had my silk favourite cheong sum sleeve burnt, amongst many others disasters. There are also times when my cupboard and the children's are completely empty, coz the ironing had not been done for days! I guess my helper does not enjoy ironing.

The sales lady from a boutique I frequent recommended me this:

It is a garment steamer. So, we invested in one of it just this week. It is easy to use, and there will be no burns - guaranteed! Why? Coz it uses steam to smoothen out creases and it is done with the garment hung up. And, it can used for all types of fabrics.

Hopefully, my wardrobe will start looking better now.

Can you read this?

2008-01-18T06:34:00.001+08:00

Can't read a thing? Then try sitting back about 3 feet and look.

Still can't make out what it says? Then, close your eyes 90% and look again.

If you still can't see anything then, you have been spending way too much time on the computer!!

I am a Bankress??

2008-01-17T06:40:00.000+08:00

We were watching Deal or No deal last night, and it was the Hunks episode. ie hunks were holding the briefcases instead of those pretty girls.

M-i-l decided to tease little D and asked her: Look at those men. Handsome or not? Is papa one of them?

Little D answered: No! He is the banker!

M-i-l: If you were one of the pretty girls, what case would you be carrying?

Little D: Number 8

M-i-l: What about mummy?

Little D: No, mummy is the bankress!

Not sure where she learnt that word from?? Could be she thinks:
actor - actress,
waiter - waitress,
so banker - bankress!!
(Hmmm, must get her to spend some time at freerice.com)

Does she think I am not pretty enough to be carrying one of those cases??? Boo hoo!

Improving your vocabulary

2008-01-15T10:09:00.001+08:00

As most of you know, I love puzzles. Any type of puzzles. I chanced upon this web page when I was blog hopping. It is not a puzzle but it tests your word knowledge. So, being the person that I am, I started having my fun.

I learnt new words as well as confirmed my understanding of words not frequently encountered. The best part is that for each word that I answer correctly, 20 grains of rice is donated through the United Nations to help end world hunger.

According to the United Nations, about 25,000 people die each day from hunger or hunger-related causes, most of them children. So do your part, and learn and have fun whilst helping to end world hunger. And you would be pleased to know I contributed a total of 500 grains to the poor today!

Entertaining kids at Dinners

2008-01-14T10:02:00.001+08:00

What do you do with your kids when there is a long dinner to sit through?

I know of some who bring DVD players or laptops to entertain their kids. Others bring electronic games (eg gameboy). I, for one, am totally against it. It is difficult to get a young child to sit through a long dinner, I agree. But if you try, it can work. It is difficult initally, but perserverence will win the day. But I notice some will just take the easy way out and say that their kids cant sit thru' a meal, and those electronic gadgets come out the minute they arrive, and remains on the table until it is time to go home!

I bought a DVD player for little D, but most of the time, I dont even let her watch it. Why? Studies have shown that too much tv for young children is no good. Also with those electronic games, I feel that the kids become "anti-social". They are so engrossed with the game that they become oblivious to everything around them. Sometimes, they dont even know what they are eating! It becomes addictive too after a while.

For my older children, what we used to do was to bring lots of drawing/coloured paper, and colour pencils / crayons for them to draw. If it was someone's birthday / wedding, they would make a card while waiting for food. If not, they were free to draw as they wish. As they got older, we changed it to puzzle / activity books, and subsequently story books /novels. That way they could entertain themselves without getting restless. Now, I dont even need to bring anything to entertain them. They are able to sit thru 3 hour meals with no problems.

With little D, I have yet to start on the drawing (as she still cant draw) but we are into educational sticker books. She loves them, but they can be quite expensive. I bring the DVD player occasionally, but it doesnt get brought out until I really have no choice. I find that for a 2 and a half hour dinner, she is able to sit through at least an hour and a half without fussing. She learns to socialise as well as learn good table etiquette. And the best part is - she knows her food!

Do give my suggestions a try!

Help !!!

2008-01-10T06:53:00.000+08:00

*

For those of you who me sent good wishes for the New Year,

*

*

It didnt help! I am just as frazzled. I am still shouting at the kids to do their homework, Little D is giving me a replay of what happened for the first term in school last year, and I am truly NOT on top of things.

Next year please send Money, Wine or Petrol Vouchers!! I think it would alleviate the pain.

Thanks in advance!

Where to go for a meal - Who decides?

2008-01-09T09:17:00.000+08:00

My family eats out for lunch most week-ends. But who decides where to go? This is always a problem for us. I feel that the one who pays should decide. But the kids want their way ALL the time.

The problem lies with my kids. Actually, it's only my son, as my eldest has recently become fairly adventurous with food, and Little D will generally not kick up a fuss, unless the other 2 influence her. He only wants 3 types of food:
Japanese, Italian or fast food.

I love Japanese food, but too much of it can make you "jelak". Also, it is not cheap.
I am not a big fan of Italian food. I dont mind it occasionally, but to have it on a weekly basis is a bit too much for me. As for fast food - I dont think I even have to talk about it, I think most mums would feel the same way - it's just not healthy, and I dont enjoy it at all. Period.

I almost never get to choose where to go. And if I do, the meal would not be pleasant coz there would be at least one super sulky face at mealtime, and that sure spoils my appetite. And that happens even on my birthday - tell me is that fair?? I never insist on something or somewhere that the kids have nothing suitable to eat. As a mum, whereever I choose, would have food suitable for the kids, just that it may not be their favourite. They just have to try it, they will like it eventually, I tell them. Which is becoming the case for my eldest. But would they listen?

So we came up with a new way of deciding where to go. We play: Deal or no deal! Just like the TV show, there is banker that decides how much to offer in exchange for the chosen box. The amount of money "won" would be matched against a pre-determined list of food places. This list ranges from instant noodles cooked at home, to hawker centres, restaurants which serve some food I have not had for ages, as well as some of their favourites. Hopefully, this would solve our lunch "problem"!

One more month

2008-01-07T07:01:00.000+08:00

Yes, it is just one more month to Chinese New Year. The days and weeks are going to just fly by very quickly, and there's just so much to do. Spring cleaning, baking (or buying) cookies and gifts for close friends and relatives, shopping for new clothes for everyone, deco for the house, planning the reunion dinner menu, etc.

I started a bit of the spring cleaning already, in fact right after Christmas, when I threw away as much as 12 bags of "trash". I have also started giving away old clothes. The children's old toys that were still in good working condition, were passed on to friends with younger children. Old school books were donated to the church group who was collecting it for the needy. Must say, it was a really productive "spring cleaning" week. Now, at least, there is some spare space in the house for me to accumulate more "treasures"!

I hope that if you are not making your own goodies, you have already ordered them. The really good ones have already stopped taking orders. I already have, more or less, planned my schedules for the next few weeks - Shopping for dried goods (things like dried mushrooms, fish maw, lap cheong, etc), a visit to the hairdressers (those white are getting more obvious, must do something about it!), go for a facial (must show off some porcelain white skin when visiting rellys), shop for shoes, go for a pedicure, etc.

But have to get Little D back to school first. 2 more days before she starts school again!!

Beauty World Cha Cha Cha

2008-01-07T06:49:00.000+08:00

Beauty World is a Singaporean musical written by Michael Chiang and composed by Dick Lee in 1988. Set in the 1960s, it tells the story of a young Malaysian girl who comes from Batu Pahat to Singapore in search of her father and winds up in a sleazy night club, and learns the truth about love and life.

I first caught the original production in 1988. It had a second run in 1992 which drew full-house performances, and the show even went on a tour to 4 cities in Japan. In 1998 it was remade into a musical for the President's Star Charity. This year sees the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Beauty World, and the musical has been revamped to include new songs, new scenes and some twists to the script. This new production is directed by Ivan Heng.

I managed to catch the performance on Saturday and I must say, this new production sure lives up to Beauty World's world-wide reputation. The music was good and the actors commendable. There was even some slap-stick element added to it this time round, including "pokes" on local issues (eg foreign talent issue). A truly enjoyable performance, which I would recommend.

Mom's Overture

2008-01-04T21:07:00.003+08:00

Hope you enjoy this. She sure sounds like me!!

Cat naps

2008-01-04T07:31:00.000+08:00

Cat naps or power naps, are short naps taken during the day. They are a great way to catch up on lost sleep or to refresh ourselves. For some people, though, napping can lead to problems sleeping at night.

Since I have been waking up really early recently (4.30 or 5am, on most mornings), I usually catch a cat nap whilst trying to make Little D take her afternoon nap. I would just close my eyes and doze off. But after just 10 minutes, I would awaken on my own, feeling really refreshed and all set to take on the rest of the day. It is one of the little luxuries which I manage to indulge in, and I find that it does wonders for me. I feel less tired. I am less grouchy. I am more willing to co-operate with the children. The children are less likely to "torch" me. AND I am able to function happily for the rest of the day

Give it a try!.

Leap Year

2008-01-03T06:04:00.000+08:00

Just realised 2008 is a leap year!

A leap year is a year with one extra day inserted into February. The leap year is 366days with 29 days in February as opposed to the normal 28 days.

In the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar used by most modern countries, the following rules decide which years are leap years:

1. Every year divisible by 4 is a leap year.
2. But every year divisible by 100 is NOT a leap year
3. Unless the year is also divisible by 400, then it is still a leap year.

This means that year 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are NOT leap years, while year 2000 and 2400 are leap years. This actually means year 2000 is kind of special, as it is the first time the third rule is used in many parts of the world.

Leap years are needed so that the calendar is in alignment with the earth's motion around the sun. Using a calendar with 365 days would result in an error of 0.2422 days or almost 6 hours per year. After 100 years, this calendar would be more than 24days ahead of the seasons (tropical year), which is not a desirable situation. It is desirable to align the calendar with the seasons, and make the difference as small as possible.

By adding leap years approximately every 4th year, this difference between the calendar and the seasons can be reduced significantly, and the calendar will follow the seasons much more closely than without leap years.

So should I be happy or sad that this year is a leap year?

I dont know!

Sad, because it means one extra day of the school year, where I will have to nag and cajole my kids to do their homework. One extra day of house work to do.

Happy, because I have one extra day to enjoy my kids and hubby. One extra day of life. After all, life is short. We should thank God for that one extra day!

Hey, every 29th of Feb should be declared a holiday, dont you agree?

New School Year

2008-01-02T06:00:00.000+08:00

Today marks the new school year for most kids in Singapore. Why do I say most? Because my little D does not start until the 9 Jan! Arghhhh!! Why? Because her school is in the midst of moving to new premises (with rising rentals, I guess they had no choice unless they raised school fees drastically which wont be terribly welcomed by the parents.) So it means - No rest for me until then.

My other kids will be like the rest of school going children, getting up early and trying to get used to the waking-up-super-early schedule again, rushing with other kids to get to school on time amidst the morning traffic jams, especially in the first week.

This year sees my eldest in P6, and my second in P3. I can forsee a stressful time ahead for me. In fact, I just looked at the school calendar for the 1st week and realised my big Boo boo. We have booked tickets to Beauty World this saturday for a Matinee show, and there is this briefing for parents in school at the same time, which I feel we should attend!! Oh dear, it may mean $350 of our hard earned money down the drain, and the kids not getting to enjoy a show which they have been looking forward to.

Sigh, What a thing to find out on the first day of school and what a way to start the school year! Hope things get better from here!

Ushering in the New Year

2008-01-01T17:11:00.000+08:00

Did you usher in the New Year?

I have not done it for quite a number of years already, as to me, my beauty sleep is more important.

Before the birth of my son, every new year's eve would see hubby and me (and my daughter, S ), rewarding ourselves on New Year's eve at one of those high-end F&B establishments or hotel, with our hard-earned cash on a too-expensive dinner. But after my son arrived, I left my job to be a full time mum. Unneccessary expenses were trimmed, and this was one of them, as it became too much of a chore to be eating out nicely dressed with two very young children. Since then,New Year's eve have been homely affairs, and I had not bothered to stay up to usher in the new year.

This year, after a nice family meal at home, we brought the kids out for some durians. The kids came home contented, and we packed them off to bed. I decided that since I managed to catch a cat-nap in the evening, I could and would actually stay up to watch the count down on TV.

I thought the New Year count-down show was a little boring, and dozed off in front of the TV. Luckily hubby's mobile rang just in time to wake me up. (It was his office calling!!). I must say, the call was timely, as shortly after, there was the count-down to the New Year. The fireworks display was quite impressive, (though the Sydney one was much better), and as soon as it ended, I quickly ran up to bed. Did not want to waste my beauty sleep watching that boring show.

So, after a 8 year hiatus, I ushered in the New Year, this time in the comforts of my home!

God's way of ......

2007-12-29T15:17:00.000+08:00

..... saying:

"Have a nice day!"

Have a great weekend, and be ready for the New Year!!

2007 in Review

2007-12-27T07:36:00.000+08:00

2007 has been a very busy and blessed year for us.

The year started with Little D starting Nursery 1. What a tumultous first term for me when she cried every day of that 10 weeks, except Day 1. However, she eventually got used to the idea of going to school, and has loved it since. Thanks a great deal to her wonderful teacher, Mrs Geeta Singh.

This year also saw my son changing schools to be in the same school as his older sister. This change resulted in me having a chance to sleep in late while hubby sent both kids to school. It also meant that hubby could enjoy his lunch hour whilst I did the duty of picking the kids home from school. (Previously, both of us would leave together in the mornings, each going in a different direction, sending a child to school. Dismissal time meant both of us waiting at their respective schools to pick them home.)

January also saw the birth of my new baby, this blog. It has made me new friends and kept me busy and occupied. It also gave me a chance to destress via a different means.

This year also saw us holidaying in Malaysia. We had not done it for more than 8 years. We spent a week in Penang during the June hols, where we enjoyed the sun, sand and sea! We made another trip in December, but it was for a more serious matter - chess.

We did not entertain as much at home this year, due to the children's school and chess workload getting increasingly heavy. However, what we did do for ourselves and the kids was to have many, many Bar-be-ques at home. The children really enjoy the BBQs, the best part being the toasted marshmallows at the end!

Hubby and I tried our best to have "our own" time during the year. This mainly comprised some wonderful meals with good friends, good food and good wine. Maybe next year, we can try to holiday without the kids!! (Wishful thinking, I think!)

There was a wake-up call for me health-wise when my health review showed that my cholesterol level was high. After keeping a close watch on my diet, and changing it towards a heathier one, with more vegetables and fruits, I am glad that I am now able to enjoy my little food indulgences without much worry!

I was fortunate that I was able to meet up a couple of times with my friends, both from school and work, during the year. All this was made possible, courtesy of my very gracious mother-in-law, who took care of the baby-sitting each time I went for a girls night out!

Towards the end of the academic school year, our children rewarded us with good grades. It made us please to know that all the effort that we put in to help them during the year did not go to waste, including all that home-made chicken essence Grandma made for them!

The year-end saw us holidaying in Perth, where the kids had a good time catching up with their cousin who moved there in January this year. It also saw the first time Little D had a sleep-over, without needing me to be lurking around near-by!

The children also joined in hubby's office christmas party for the 1st time. I thought it was such a wonderful gesture to invite the families. The kids have been by hubby's office, but never really going in. So they were thrilled when they could swivel in his chair, enjoy the view of the CBD from his window, and the best part for them was seeing the number of computer screens on his desk, an unbelievable 8 in total!! They were like - wow! can play 8 different computer games at the same time!

How time flies, and how fast the children grow. Another year is almost over. We thank God for all his blessings on us and the family during the past year. We look forward to another God-Blessed year in 2008.

May you be filled with God's Blessings in the coming New Year!

Cheers!

On Christmas Morning ....

2007-12-26T06:50:00.000+08:00

This was the scene at my home early on Christmas morning. And, Boy! Were they up early. This was despite the late night we had at our annual Christmas Eve Dinner Party.

(Sing to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Dashing down the stairs,
Still in their pyjamas
Wondering what they got
For Chrismas Presents

Ripping Wrappers
Opening Boxes
What fun it is to find out
What they got this time

Oh! Open here, Open there
Open all the gifts
Oh what fun, it is to find
What presents they got!

I usually restrict the children's opening of Christmas (and even birthday) presents to just one or two a day. That way, I thought, they would appreciate all the thought and effort that went into the buying of the specially selected gifts. And, every gift would get a fair chance of being enjoyed. Also, it prolonged the fun of the celebration and the opening of presents. I felt that by opening all the presents at once, the kids would just zoom in on the one that they really liked, and all the rest would be "neglected" or just chucked aside. People call me a killjoy for doing that. Well, this year, it was no holds barred. Guess what? All the presents were opened in less than half an hour, and now, there are piles of "less favoured" gifts just sitting around. Maybe, I should go back to my "old" rules. What do you think?

Have a Blessed Christmas!

2007-12-21T08:58:00.000+08:00

Hope all your shoppings done,
Presents bought,
House cleaned,
Christmas Decorations are up,
And you are ready for all the
Feasting

Carolling

Presents

That come your way.

May the true meaning of Christmas remain the central theme for all your Christmas celebrations.

And May you and your Loved ones have a meaningful and Blessed Christmas!