It's confirmed. Boy caught HFMD. Right now, he's thundering around the house, which drives everyone up the wall. He has strapped a 'jet engine' (an IKEA stool) to his behind and so is going round the house screaming "fire! faster!! faster!!!" Much rather he continue this crazy run than lying in bed.
Btw, I'm done with the detox.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Day 3
Yup, am still at it. Now really sick of the sryup. Have been using limes... will use lemons today for variety. Did buy mee pok yesterday but it was for the boy who ate only like 1/10th of it. What a waste! But no, I didn't touch it.
After dinner, we brought him also around the estate for a walk with the lantern he received from Hannah as well as the lantern he made in school. There were also a couple of boys and one came along to show off his gun to him and he ran away from them in a hurry, back to us and announced, " They have guns leh!" So I told him something stupid... " Tell them you have a lantern and that your lantern has a fire!" God, this only works in Singapore where there are laws against firearms but if it's somewhere else in the world, then he jolly well did the right thing. RUN!!!!
Anyway, spent the morning working from home because the boy wasn't allowed into the school. He had a tiny ulcer on his right inner cheek. There was a case of HFMD in his class last week so they are on high alert. Hopefully, it's not. We are monitoring.
After dinner, we brought him also around the estate for a walk with the lantern he received from Hannah as well as the lantern he made in school. There were also a couple of boys and one came along to show off his gun to him and he ran away from them in a hurry, back to us and announced, " They have guns leh!" So I told him something stupid... " Tell them you have a lantern and that your lantern has a fire!" God, this only works in Singapore where there are laws against firearms but if it's somewhere else in the world, then he jolly well did the right thing. RUN!!!!
Anyway, spent the morning working from home because the boy wasn't allowed into the school. He had a tiny ulcer on his right inner cheek. There was a case of HFMD in his class last week so they are on high alert. Hopefully, it's not. We are monitoring.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Still Day 2!!!
Wondering what would happen if I ate a nougat that a colleague bought from France? Am a bit sick of the maple syrup now...
Want COFFEE and MEE POK!!!
Want COFFEE and MEE POK!!!
Detox Day 2
The stomach did howl like a wolf at full moon occasionally. But all you need to do is quickly make yourself another cup of maple syrup lemonade with a dash of pepper and it will stop. Strange, this is the longest time I have gone without solid food in a long long long long long time... maybe since I could eat solid food?
And oh, I have a headache... the type I get when I don't drink my 'kopi-si-kow-kosong' (thick coffee with evaporated milk no sugar) in the morning. Come to think of it, I normally have at least 3 servings of caffeine a day. One in the morning and 2 in the afternoons and more if I'm stuck in meetings that serves free flow of coffee or tea. Other than that, I'm feeling quite awake and have enough energy still to move around.
This morning, I watched the young one eat a whole bun - he picked the one with hotdog of course - at the bread shop near our place. That bread shop is his heaven ( not far from the truth since it is operated by a christian group) and he loves the freshly baked breads there lots. Anyway, we were there early and they hadn't made anyone coffee yet. I can watch him eat, no problems but the smell of good coffee would be another thing altogether.
And oh, I have a headache... the type I get when I don't drink my 'kopi-si-kow-kosong' (thick coffee with evaporated milk no sugar) in the morning. Come to think of it, I normally have at least 3 servings of caffeine a day. One in the morning and 2 in the afternoons and more if I'm stuck in meetings that serves free flow of coffee or tea. Other than that, I'm feeling quite awake and have enough energy still to move around.
This morning, I watched the young one eat a whole bun - he picked the one with hotdog of course - at the bread shop near our place. That bread shop is his heaven ( not far from the truth since it is operated by a christian group) and he loves the freshly baked breads there lots. Anyway, we were there early and they hadn't made anyone coffee yet. I can watch him eat, no problems but the smell of good coffee would be another thing altogether.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Detox Day 1
This will be all I'm 'eating' the next 10 days:
Maple Syrup Lemonade:
250ml of distilled room temperature water mixed with
2 Tablespoons lemon or limejuice (approx. ½ lemon)
2 Tablespoons genuine maple syrup (Not maple flavored sugar syrup)
1/10 Teaspoon cayenne pepper (red pepper) or to taste
=> Up to 12 glasses a day
Have taken 4 glasses of it so far. Breakfast and lunch has gone by but I'm still feeling ok. Don't have the usual post-lunch drowsy feeling... but of course, I didn't have any lunch but I'm not feeling hungry either which, is good. The cayenne pepper is giving the stomach a nice warm feeling.
Right, time to make another glass>>>
Maple Syrup Lemonade:
250ml of distilled room temperature water mixed with
2 Tablespoons lemon or limejuice (approx. ½ lemon)
2 Tablespoons genuine maple syrup (Not maple flavored sugar syrup)
1/10 Teaspoon cayenne pepper (red pepper) or to taste
=> Up to 12 glasses a day
Have taken 4 glasses of it so far. Breakfast and lunch has gone by but I'm still feeling ok. Don't have the usual post-lunch drowsy feeling... but of course, I didn't have any lunch but I'm not feeling hungry either which, is good. The cayenne pepper is giving the stomach a nice warm feeling.
Right, time to make another glass>>>
Lesson #1 - Break it!
It's a group lesson. So 6 kids, 7 parents and a teacher squeezed into a small room for the session. Anyway, lesson #1 was all about getting the right-sized violin for the kid and teaching the parent how to stand and hold the violin correctly.
So the kid himself got bored. He walked around the tiny room, rather aimlessly, then asked repeatedly for his own instrument, played with the bow, swung it around a few times, leaned on it and ... broke it.
The other parents gasps while all I did was sigh and asked the teacher if he had a spare. He did. A spare new one and I had to pay $32.10 for it.
If I were not a parent, I would have thought me a bad parent for that kind of non-reaction.
My only excuse is that dragging him to class with my bag, his bag, my violin case, his violin case from home to town is too consuming and I don't have any more energy left for dispensing on discipline. And oh! Screaming at him in class or smacking him in the behind wouldn't help him learn the instrument will it?
Looking forward to next week.
Wondering what else he'd break.
*sigh*
So the kid himself got bored. He walked around the tiny room, rather aimlessly, then asked repeatedly for his own instrument, played with the bow, swung it around a few times, leaned on it and ... broke it.
The other parents gasps while all I did was sigh and asked the teacher if he had a spare. He did. A spare new one and I had to pay $32.10 for it.
If I were not a parent, I would have thought me a bad parent for that kind of non-reaction.
My only excuse is that dragging him to class with my bag, his bag, my violin case, his violin case from home to town is too consuming and I don't have any more energy left for dispensing on discipline. And oh! Screaming at him in class or smacking him in the behind wouldn't help him learn the instrument will it?
Looking forward to next week.
Wondering what else he'd break.
*sigh*
Friday, September 21, 2007
Passport ... FINALLY!!!
We brought you to the immigration house to collect your passport today. Yeah! Can pack you along for trips now.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
A pleasant evening...
Very pleasant evening yesterday... Went home, fed the boy dinner while he played with his new trains on the table. He played with them too after dinner and when we went for a walk around the estate, he took them along. Anyway, he played with them the whole night and I even managed to read the papers and shower without him messing up my papers or banging his fists on the door demanding to know what I am doing inside the bathroom. Evening ended at midnight, with him holding on to his milk bottle with one hand and the trains with the other. Sweet.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Nothing much...
...going on in my life now >>> Wake up, go work, work, go home, sleep. Mondays thru to Fridays.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Wii
Finally we set it up.... or rather, YL did. The boy knocked out at 8+ and so we played, uninterrupted, for a few hours. It's been a while since we laughed so much!
Violin 1/16 + Hannah's Birthday Party
Bought a violin for the boy over the weekend from 'Synwin', located at Tanjong Katong Shopping Centre. The boy was pretty excited but ran away from the uncle when asked to grip the violin with his chin. Caught up with the boy outside the shop and hauled him back into the shop for measurement. The uncle decided that 1/16 was the right size. It's really tiny and apparently not the smallest. They have it in 1/32 and 1/64 too! So watch out!!! Because very soon, they'd make it so small you can start introducing it to them while they are still feotuses!!
Thank you Hannah for having us at your party! The Small One enjoyed himself loads and so did we! I thought he was looking at the cake in this picture but realised he wasn't when I took a closer look. He was looking at the caboose that someone had left on the table and not the cake!
Thank you Hannah for having us at your party! The Small One enjoyed himself loads and so did we! I thought he was looking at the cake in this picture but realised he wasn't when I took a closer look. He was looking at the caboose that someone had left on the table and not the cake!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Violin lessons
....thinking of starting the boy on violin lessons. Decision almost 90% made. Thing is, they require the parent to buy 2 violins! One for the kid and one for the parent. Wha!!.... Wonder if I can lug my cello there instead?.... Anyone has spare violins to loan for a term? Maybe it's time to take another trip to The Salvation Army store.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Quake
Our house shook this morning. The Big One came out of the room and asked, did you feel that? And then we did, it came in intervals of about 5-15 seconds. Our lamp was swaying at some point and we decided, maybe we should leave the house, go downstairs. Little One was eating some Chwee Chong Fun, so I thought, why not let him continue eating downstairs and took the plate with me... then opps, no bra! Went to the toilet to put one on. Big One forgot the key card and went back for it. By the time we got to open our front door, the shaking stopped. I can't believe how ill prepared we are for such incidents... and in times of crisis, we can be so silly about little things. I bet you if I was holidaying on the 26th of December 2004 on a beach and saw a big wave coming, I would have stood there watching.......
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Rebranding
Walked into the office today to find 2 boxes of namecards, a packet of M&Ms Brand Milk Chocolate candies on our corporate colors, with our new logo on one side of it, a mousepad and a thermal mug. Not denying that it takes effort to do all this but I'd like to take a piss neverthelest ... the color of the logo on the namecard, chocolate, pad, mug don't match!
Also had this debate with the "HEAD". My point =>Brand names should never be used as nouns even when it is more grammatically correct to do so. Think escalator, rollerblade, photoshop etc etc... at least one can now be found in the dictionary and when it does, you loose the rights to it as a brand and/or trademark. Perhaps the company that I work for is leagues away from that but still???
Lastly, I burst out laughing at the "HEAD'S HEAD" presentation when I first saw our new ads. It's BAD. It's REALLY BAD.
Like I was telling CC during lunch at 'B Bakery' at Bussorah Street yesterday ....(Must digress. I had a Caesar's Salad there and it was really really good! Each leaf was evenly coated with dressing, with a generous spread of finely grated cheese & garlic, topped with my type of boiled egg - solid white with a soft and semi-runny yolk & a slice of freshly baked thick cut bread. $10) ....., my left brain is taxed to the max here in my job.... leaving my left atrophying from the lack of stimulus.
Also had this debate with the "HEAD". My point =>Brand names should never be used as nouns even when it is more grammatically correct to do so. Think escalator, rollerblade, photoshop etc etc... at least one can now be found in the dictionary and when it does, you loose the rights to it as a brand and/or trademark. Perhaps the company that I work for is leagues away from that but still???
Lastly, I burst out laughing at the "HEAD'S HEAD" presentation when I first saw our new ads. It's BAD. It's REALLY BAD.
Like I was telling CC during lunch at 'B Bakery' at Bussorah Street yesterday ....(Must digress. I had a Caesar's Salad there and it was really really good! Each leaf was evenly coated with dressing, with a generous spread of finely grated cheese & garlic, topped with my type of boiled egg - solid white with a soft and semi-runny yolk & a slice of freshly baked thick cut bread. $10) ....., my left brain is taxed to the max here in my job.... leaving my left atrophying from the lack of stimulus.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Reading
Last night, during our dinner at Foo's House, >> Here's a link to a review by ishootieatipost >> the boy picked up a menu and pretended to read it. When he was ready (the menu had no pictures), he said very confidently, "Mummy, I want to order this!" and pointed to this:
Well, I don't think so, little man! That's beer. Do you want beer? Not to be defeated, he pointed to the next item and said, "THIS?"
~Erdinger Weissbrau~
Well, I don't think so, little man! That's beer. Do you want beer? Not to be defeated, he pointed to the next item and said, "THIS?"
~Tiger Beer~
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Portraits with digital cams
The digital camera we have is as old as the boy. Got tired of taking crappy shots so was looking for a solution when I found this site with some tips on how to take good portrait shots with digital cams. Will provide links to that site once I find it again... Meanwhile, here's what you are suppose to do:(1) Switch to portrait mode... *duh* right? But mine apparently came in a symbol of a tulip flower and not a head. So I didn't know I had one. Thought it was the symbol for macro mode.
(2) Zoom lens to max! (apparently you do this to blur the background)
(3) Force the flash to go off at every shot.
Well, tried it. See effect above. Not too bad huh?
Anyone with better ideas?
Friday, September 07, 2007
Stainless Steel
YY, look, there's a crack in the wall
>> Where?
There!
>> nrg
You want to look at it closer?
>> Yes
*carries him up for a closer look*
YY, you think the roof will crash down on us?
>> No, because got stainless steel inside, very strong, won't crash down
???!?
I asked my father: Did you tell him that there is stainless steel inside the wall?
>> No.
I asked the Big One: Did you tell him that there is stainless steel inside the wall?
>> No.
I don't remember reading any books telling him that there is steel inside the walls either. Where on earth does he pick up such information?
**Baffled.
>> Where?
There!
>> nrg
You want to look at it closer?
>> Yes
*carries him up for a closer look*
YY, you think the roof will crash down on us?
>> No, because got stainless steel inside, very strong, won't crash down
???!?
I asked my father: Did you tell him that there is stainless steel inside the wall?
>> No.
I asked the Big One: Did you tell him that there is stainless steel inside the wall?
>> No.
I don't remember reading any books telling him that there is steel inside the walls either. Where on earth does he pick up such information?
**Baffled.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Spaced....
Mom: Does she clean your window?
Me: Windows don't need to clean every week... if she has time then she'd clean them.
Mom: Then she only need to come every other week!
Me: I think she did clean the window grills last week.
Mom: She is here how many hours?
Me: 4 hours.
Mom: Your house so small, need 4 hours arh?
*me walks away* This conversational topic with my Mom may turn out to be more exhausting than killing myself doing housework.
Me: Windows don't need to clean every week... if she has time then she'd clean them.
Mom: Then she only need to come every other week!
Me: I think she did clean the window grills last week.
Mom: She is here how many hours?
Me: 4 hours.
Mom: Your house so small, need 4 hours arh?
*me walks away* This conversational topic with my Mom may turn out to be more exhausting than killing myself doing housework.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
SILOMAT RECALL
Was waiting for my coffee so flipped through the papers. Saw an article about Silomat. Freak! Small one has downed at least half a dozen bottles of this medication since he was born! Coffee not in system but my own heartbeat already irregular.
Silomat cough mixture taken off the shelves in Singapore
By Foo Siew Shyan, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 04 September 2007 1949 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Silomat brand of cough mixture has been pulled off the shelves in Singapore. German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim said this is a voluntary recall and applies to all countries where the medication is available. It comes after recent findings suggest Silomat has a small likelihood of causing cardiac arrhythmia. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has been informed. Silomat treats irritable cough and it contains clobutinol hydrochloride, which according to a recent study, may pose a potential risk to affecting one's heart rhythm. But the company says the risk is very low. Silomat is available in syrup form and is a prescription drug in Singapore. Patients currently on the drug can seek a full refund before 30 November.
Silomat cough mixture taken off the shelves in Singapore
By Foo Siew Shyan, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 04 September 2007 1949 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Silomat brand of cough mixture has been pulled off the shelves in Singapore. German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim said this is a voluntary recall and applies to all countries where the medication is available. It comes after recent findings suggest Silomat has a small likelihood of causing cardiac arrhythmia. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has been informed. Silomat treats irritable cough and it contains clobutinol hydrochloride, which according to a recent study, may pose a potential risk to affecting one's heart rhythm. But the company says the risk is very low. Silomat is available in syrup form and is a prescription drug in Singapore. Patients currently on the drug can seek a full refund before 30 November.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Teleconference
X attendee: We can't hear you well. There is a lot of echo!
Host: Ok. Can everyone please put their phone to mute?
*PAUSE*
Host: Now, can everyone hear me? Is this better?
*NO REPLY*
Host: Eehlo!! Can everyone hear me?
>>> I burst out laughing...but of course, because I was on mute, she couldn't hear it!!!
DUH!!!!
Host: Ok. Can everyone please put their phone to mute?
*PAUSE*
Host: Now, can everyone hear me? Is this better?
*NO REPLY*
Host: Eehlo!! Can everyone hear me?
>>> I burst out laughing...but of course, because I was on mute, she couldn't hear it!!!
DUH!!!!
Monday, September 03, 2007
PT Help
Went home yesterday to a spanking clean house... Lovely!!! Thing was, my mother came along to stay over.
Mom: Eh, your house very clean
Me: Emm... Yes.
Mom: When was it cleaned?
Me: Emm.... today.
Mom: Did you ask somebody to help or you clean it yourself?
Me: It's clean hor?
Mom: So you clean it?
Me: Sometimes
Mom: So you ask somebody to clean it?
Me: No lar, I clean it sometimes.
Mom: So who cleaned it today??
In the absense of a mother-in-law, sometimes I feel like my own mother becomes one.
Me: Part-time helper.
Mom: How much does that cost?
Me: $50
Mom: $50 for...??
Me: $50 for 4 hour
Mom: How often?
Me: Once a week.
Mom: When does she come?
Me: Sunday.
Mom: I can clean for you this week. Tell her no need to come this sunday.
Me: Eh, it doesn't work like that.
Mom: Why not? Can!
*sigh*
Mom: Eh, your house very clean
Me: Emm... Yes.
Mom: When was it cleaned?
Me: Emm.... today.
Mom: Did you ask somebody to help or you clean it yourself?
Me: It's clean hor?
Mom: So you clean it?
Me: Sometimes
Mom: So you ask somebody to clean it?
Me: No lar, I clean it sometimes.
Mom: So who cleaned it today??
In the absense of a mother-in-law, sometimes I feel like my own mother becomes one.
Me: Part-time helper.
Mom: How much does that cost?
Me: $50
Mom: $50 for...??
Me: $50 for 4 hour
Mom: How often?
Me: Once a week.
Mom: When does she come?
Me: Sunday.
Mom: I can clean for you this week. Tell her no need to come this sunday.
Me: Eh, it doesn't work like that.
Mom: Why not? Can!
*sigh*
Random
...conversations with the Big One this morning.
Me: Whey, if you gave money to a begger and he runs off to buy toto, will you be angry?
>>> No, because once you've given him the money, it is his to spend.
Me: Ok. Now, will you give the same person money again?
>>> HAHHAHAHAHA!!!!
Me: Whey, if you gave money to a begger and he runs off to buy toto, will you be angry?
>>> No, because once you've given him the money, it is his to spend.
Me: Ok. Now, will you give the same person money again?
>>> HAHHAHAHAHA!!!!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Finnish Proverbs
Hhahhahhaaa!!!
Elämä on epävarmaa, syö jälkiruoka ensin.
Life is uncertain so eat your dessert first.
Siellä mies kuin pyy ja sääret kuin sääskillä.
There's a man who looks like a partridge with legs like a mosquito.
>>What could this possibly mean???
Ihmetapauksiin voi toivoa mutta älä luota niihin.
Hope for miracles, but don't rely on one happening.
>> Nett nett equals nothing??
Ei toukokuun ruoholla ole koskaan lehmiä ruokittu.
Cow's diets have never been sustained on grass grown in May.
>> What's wrong with grass grown in May?
Ei se työtä kun uskaltaa vaikka työn ääree makaamaan.
Work doesn't scare him, but he could lay down near it and sleep.
>> What?
Rakkautta tuli paperipussissa sanio likka kun sulhaiselta sai kirjeen.
Love came in a paper bag, said the maiden when she got a letter from her sweetheart.
>> Now.... what did she get in the paper bag that wasn't in the letter?
Elämä on epävarmaa, syö jälkiruoka ensin.
Life is uncertain so eat your dessert first.
Siellä mies kuin pyy ja sääret kuin sääskillä.
There's a man who looks like a partridge with legs like a mosquito.
>>What could this possibly mean???
Ihmetapauksiin voi toivoa mutta älä luota niihin.
Hope for miracles, but don't rely on one happening.
>> Nett nett equals nothing??
Ei toukokuun ruoholla ole koskaan lehmiä ruokittu.
Cow's diets have never been sustained on grass grown in May.
>> What's wrong with grass grown in May?
Ei se työtä kun uskaltaa vaikka työn ääree makaamaan.
Work doesn't scare him, but he could lay down near it and sleep.
>> What?
Rakkautta tuli paperipussissa sanio likka kun sulhaiselta sai kirjeen.
Love came in a paper bag, said the maiden when she got a letter from her sweetheart.
>> Now.... what did she get in the paper bag that wasn't in the letter?
Confirmation
HR came with a confirmation letter for me today and I yelled out , "What? I have 4 more days to think about it! Go away!!!"
They just laughed and gave it to me anyways.
I can't believe they like me better than I like them.... and that I might actually stay here longer than I thought I would.
They just laughed and gave it to me anyways.
I can't believe they like me better than I like them.... and that I might actually stay here longer than I thought I would.
Where did the week go??
It's Friday, which means the weekend is here but then, where did the days go? Monday I had a full day meeting, Tuesday I did so many things I cannot remember exactly what they are anymore, except that it rained heavily? Wednesday I attended a full day training session offsite>>>>>>> the boy starting sneezing on Wednesday, coughing on Thursday and today, we had to rush him to the paediatrician because he started wheezing. Ever watched tv and seen people foaming in their mouths? I never thought it could be real until today, the boy coughed out foam! FOAM!!! By the mouthful!!! Cough! Cough! - This great big lump of bubbly white phlegm comes right out. The sight of that plummets my energy level to sub-zero conditions. It'd be a while before I can pick me back up again. But I have to. Quickly too. The boy's definitely the brave one and I need to be strong for him.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Golden 3's
The boy's 3.
He is
no longer a baby,
no longer a toddler.
He talks,
he sings,
and he says silly things.
He makes me laugh,
roll up my eyes,
or scream ARHHHHhhhh !!!!
He's 2 times taller,
4 times heavier
and a gazillion times better
than anything
that I could
ever want.
Friday, August 24, 2007
miRRor
Unfocussed...
....SO funny!!!
What is that? These 3 photos of the cousins, taken within seconds of each other, absolutely cracks me and the big one up. Their expressions so mirror each other we really don't know how they did it.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Weekend starts now...
... am taking the day off tomorrow. Quite excited. Can just imagine myself walking with 20 odd balloons filled (with helium) down the kiddy school and watching the little one's reaction to it.
Tomorrow also, we have a part-time helper coming in to help us clean the house. Found her on the train on the way to work yesterday. It's very bizarre...have been thinking about it for weeks and weeks and suddenly, the person just pops up beside you. Right, I was eavesdropping but I can't stop my ears from hearing things right? This means I don't have to wash the toilets, change the sheets, mop the floor and iron our clothes anymore!!! The price of laziness >>> $50 per 4 hour block.
Current Mood: Helium!
Tomorrow also, we have a part-time helper coming in to help us clean the house. Found her on the train on the way to work yesterday. It's very bizarre...have been thinking about it for weeks and weeks and suddenly, the person just pops up beside you. Right, I was eavesdropping but I can't stop my ears from hearing things right? This means I don't have to wash the toilets, change the sheets, mop the floor and iron our clothes anymore!!! The price of laziness >>> $50 per 4 hour block.
Current Mood: Helium!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Birthday Charity
....If you are thinking of getting BY a pressie for his birthday... please make a donation to the Singapore Children's Cancer Fund instead. Visit http://www.ccf.org.sg or click here to make a donation. Thank you!
Back to school
Brought the boy back to school today. This after a 6-week break. He wasn't very sure of himself though but did say "Bye Bye Mummy" to me, without any tears. Hope he'd have fun today.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Passport revisited...
Me: Eh, so when are you going to make a passport for him? He's turning 3 soon!
>>> Orh
Me: We also need his passport number for the cruise!
>>> Nowadays passport number same as birth cert. number.
Me: Oh, so we can use birth cert to travel nowadays ah?
>>> ???!????
>>> Orh
Me: We also need his passport number for the cruise!
>>> Nowadays passport number same as birth cert. number.
Me: Oh, so we can use birth cert to travel nowadays ah?
>>> ???!????
Friday, August 17, 2007
I got tagged again!
This time, by Kelly. Thought I get away with just answering just ONE question off that list.
Anyway, here goes:
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now...
ONE/ At the Beach.... >> that would mean I'm not working
TWO/ At a beach in Maldives >> that would mean I'm not working and on holiday
THREE/ At a private beach in Maldives >> that would mean I'm not working, on a holiday and rich!
FOUR/ At a private beach in Maldives .... eh .... eh ... sunbathing in the nude?? >> HahhaahhhH!!! That would mean I'm not working, on a holiday, rich and have a great hot bod and no double chins ( there and there and there...) !!!!
*sigh*
Back to work....
Anyway, here goes:
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now...
ONE/ At the Beach.... >> that would mean I'm not working
TWO/ At a beach in Maldives >> that would mean I'm not working and on holiday
THREE/ At a private beach in Maldives >> that would mean I'm not working, on a holiday and rich!
FOUR/ At a private beach in Maldives .... eh .... eh ... sunbathing in the nude?? >> HahhaahhhH!!! That would mean I'm not working, on a holiday, rich and have a great hot bod and no double chins ( there and there and there...) !!!!
*sigh*
Back to work....
Pig and Spider
Mummy, where is my pig and spider?
What pig and spider?
I want my Pig and Spider!!
I don't know what you are talking about...
I want my PIg and SPider!!!
What Pig and Spider?
PIG AND SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!
What is it? Is it a book?
PIG AND SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT MY PIG AND SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO YOU HAVE A PIG AND SPIDER? IS IT A BOOK?
PIG AND SPIDER VIDEO!!!!!!!!!
.........*pause* ........ORHHHHHHH! YOU WANT CHARLOTTE'S WEB is it?
YES!... WHO IS CHARLOTTE?
????!!!??? CHARLOTTE is the SPIDER! WILBER IS THE PIG!
WHO IS LOTTE???
*** i give up! ***
What pig and spider?
I want my Pig and Spider!!
I don't know what you are talking about...
I want my PIg and SPider!!!
What Pig and Spider?
PIG AND SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!
What is it? Is it a book?
PIG AND SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT MY PIG AND SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO YOU HAVE A PIG AND SPIDER? IS IT A BOOK?
PIG AND SPIDER VIDEO!!!!!!!!!
.........*pause* ........ORHHHHHHH! YOU WANT CHARLOTTE'S WEB is it?
YES!... WHO IS CHARLOTTE?
????!!!??? CHARLOTTE is the SPIDER! WILBER IS THE PIG!
WHO IS LOTTE???
*** i give up! ***
Monday, August 13, 2007
Tagged by Mel.
Four jobs I have held in my life:
ONE/ Biscuit distributor during our tea-time in kindergarten. Fired after the 1st day because I dropped all of it on the floor! (Demoted to....)
TWO/ Wiping tables for the rest of that year!
THREE/ White hair removal service. Uncle's rate was 5 cents per strand ... back then, you could get 3 blackcurrant flavoured Hacks for 10 cents!
FOUR/ Barber.. for the last three years. I have only one precious customer... (",)
ONE/ Biscuit distributor during our tea-time in kindergarten. Fired after the 1st day because I dropped all of it on the floor! (Demoted to....)
TWO/ Wiping tables for the rest of that year!
THREE/ White hair removal service. Uncle's rate was 5 cents per strand ... back then, you could get 3 blackcurrant flavoured Hacks for 10 cents!
FOUR/ Barber.. for the last three years. I have only one precious customer... (",)
Chinese Chinese
My Question: So how does the Chinese in China view the Chinese who grew up in other parts of the world (i.e ME)?
Answer: The difference lies in whether you can speak Chinese ... or not. If you can speak the language, then there is no difference.
*oh* ...and so I sprouted my usual nonsense...
Me: Right! Ok! I will polish up my Chinese so that the next time we meet, we will converse in Chinese!
... oh shit shit shit shit shit shit.... shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit...............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Answer: The difference lies in whether you can speak Chinese ... or not. If you can speak the language, then there is no difference.
*oh* ...and so I sprouted my usual nonsense...
Me: Right! Ok! I will polish up my Chinese so that the next time we meet, we will converse in Chinese!
... oh shit shit shit shit shit shit.... shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit...............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Weekend in Beijing
Had to start a new post to get away from the last. Hahhaa!! (",)
Meetings start tomorrow morning but I flew in yesterday, a day earlier and spent most of this weekend with CTLK. She brought me to all the nice shopping & eating places, and to a very lovely massage that costs honestly quite little @ RMB 97/hr (SGD20). A comparable one in Singapore would have costs 10 times as much.
The last time I was here must have been in .... 2002? Between then and now, the city has changed soooooooo much! There are now not many short buildings left! Used to think the city is massive because it had so much space but with so many tall buildings around, your sight just goes from block to block and it's really hard to get a feel of the space or even try to imagine it when all you see is blocks.
CTLK told me that some buildings (and she pointed to one really really tall one) take only 4 months to build. I went, "Oh, so no need to wait for the cement to dry?" So happened that her friend is working for a property developer was with us and she went, "Oh, you don't have to wait for the cement to dry nowadays! Nowadays, we use pre-cast. It's like lego, you just stack them up. The most time-consuimg part is the part where you have to bolt them together."
Well well well, we live and learn everyday don't we?
Meetings start tomorrow morning but I flew in yesterday, a day earlier and spent most of this weekend with CTLK. She brought me to all the nice shopping & eating places, and to a very lovely massage that costs honestly quite little @ RMB 97/hr (SGD20). A comparable one in Singapore would have costs 10 times as much.
The last time I was here must have been in .... 2002? Between then and now, the city has changed soooooooo much! There are now not many short buildings left! Used to think the city is massive because it had so much space but with so many tall buildings around, your sight just goes from block to block and it's really hard to get a feel of the space or even try to imagine it when all you see is blocks.
CTLK told me that some buildings (and she pointed to one really really tall one) take only 4 months to build. I went, "Oh, so no need to wait for the cement to dry?" So happened that her friend is working for a property developer was with us and she went, "Oh, you don't have to wait for the cement to dry nowadays! Nowadays, we use pre-cast. It's like lego, you just stack them up. The most time-consuimg part is the part where you have to bolt them together."
Well well well, we live and learn everyday don't we?
You know you've eaten too much when...
.... you burp food! A bit gross but the truth is, I really ate too much. Portions here in Beijing are so huge and with a supposedly good habit of not wasting food, you'd end up eating enough to burp it back up!!! So, will start being wiser tomorrow and leave real food on the table instead of regurgitated blobs!?!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
"Asymmetrical Information"
Heard these 2 words put together for the first time. Think it's brilliant! So, to make it stick, thought up some other combinations:
Asymmetrical couple
Asymmetrical behaviour
Asymmetrical thoughts
Asymmetrical lives
Asymmetrical values
Asymmetrical influences
Asymmetrical calendars
Asymmetrical directions
Asymmetrical evidence
........
(",)
Asymmetrical couple
Asymmetrical behaviour
Asymmetrical thoughts
Asymmetrical lives
Asymmetrical values
Asymmetrical influences
Asymmetrical calendars
Asymmetrical directions
Asymmetrical evidence
........
(",)
I want to be me when I grow up.
Couple of months ago...
Q: Do you want to be Papa or Mummy when you grow up?
A: Papa & Mummy
This morning....
Q: Do you want to be Papa or Mummy when you grow up?
A: I want to be me!
Q: Do you want to be Papa or Mummy when you grow up?
A: Papa & Mummy
This morning....
Q: Do you want to be Papa or Mummy when you grow up?
A: I want to be me!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Interviews
Interviewed 5 people so far, 2 more to go and NONE so far has bothered to check the website to find out what we do. Can you believe it? In this day and age, it's so easy to get information and yet these people spent time coming, spent money on transport, obviously interested in the job, but not bothered enough to find out what kind of company they might be working for?
Plus, 2 out of the 5 were late.
And! After explaining to them what we do, how we are structured and what the scope is, I expect QUESTIONS!!! Even paraphrasing what I said would have been fantastic!!! How difficult can that be?
Plus, 2 out of the 5 were late.
And! After explaining to them what we do, how we are structured and what the scope is, I expect QUESTIONS!!! Even paraphrasing what I said would have been fantastic!!! How difficult can that be?
Monday, August 06, 2007
The Weekend...
SATURDAY
Spent 6 hours at the beach with the boys on Saturday. It was just one of the most fantastic day to spend at the beach. The wind was just coming and coming in from the sea and making lovely white caps in the waves. Would have been a fantastic day for sailing too.
The big one and I met on a boat named Pegasus.
Well, while I insisted on doing nothing, the Small One dashed dangerously around with his scooter - he's become amazingly good at it within a very short period of time.
SUNDAY
Attended HH's wedding. She made it! Hahhahaaa...!!!
Day before the wedding, I sms-ed her... "One more day!" and she replied, "Relax, I'm not running away. Ha! This time, I can't wait for the wedding to be over!" Well, dear girl, it is ok for her to be wishing the wedding to be over soon. Just remember to also wish for the marriage to last forever. (",)
Anyway, it was one of the most relaxed chinese wedding celebrations I've been to thus far and she looked unforgettably amazing in her Cheong Sum.
The Small One ran around with his friend, QQ at the wedding. At one point, he hugged her and was catch in the act by QQ's father, and he was amused but not very, which made it even more amusing. My dear boy, never ever hug a girl in the presence of her father, no matter how innocent you may be!
Spent 6 hours at the beach with the boys on Saturday. It was just one of the most fantastic day to spend at the beach. The wind was just coming and coming in from the sea and making lovely white caps in the waves. Would have been a fantastic day for sailing too.
The big one and I met on a boat named Pegasus.
Well, while I insisted on doing nothing, the Small One dashed dangerously around with his scooter - he's become amazingly good at it within a very short period of time.
SUNDAY
Attended HH's wedding. She made it! Hahhahaaa...!!!
Day before the wedding, I sms-ed her... "One more day!" and she replied, "Relax, I'm not running away. Ha! This time, I can't wait for the wedding to be over!" Well, dear girl, it is ok for her to be wishing the wedding to be over soon. Just remember to also wish for the marriage to last forever. (",)
Anyway, it was one of the most relaxed chinese wedding celebrations I've been to thus far and she looked unforgettably amazing in her Cheong Sum.
The Small One ran around with his friend, QQ at the wedding. At one point, he hugged her and was catch in the act by QQ's father, and he was amused but not very, which made it even more amusing. My dear boy, never ever hug a girl in the presence of her father, no matter how innocent you may be!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Double
I woke up and found a double chin. A DOUBLE CHIN! Asked the big one... eh, I think I have a double chin. He looks and says, "Yah, I think you need to tone it up."
How encouraging... tone up the chin? ***** How on earth do you do that? Hmmm... chomp on more food? And so, as I write this, I'm toning up my chin with a curry potato puff and a large ice teh-tarik and waiting for a colleage to come back with more things to chomp on - Chicken Briyani!
But seriously, the food here at where I work is FANTASTIC!
This Week's Lunch Menu:
Monday - Collagen-rich soup base Ramen ( with HH, the lady who is about to walk down the aisle this Sunday with her catch from Washington)
Tuesday - Japanese Beef Paper Pot (with a brave lady - at least I think anyone who is pregnant at 41 is brave!)
Wednesday - Pomelo Salad with Prawn, Chicken Green Curry and Mango Fried Fish (with my grumpy ex-boss / friend / uber-intelligent-being)
Thursday - Chicken Feet Hor Fun (with the Big One)
Friday - Still waiting for the Briyani....!!!
Kind of contradictory huh? After all these chin-chomping-toning exercises, I still wake up with a DOUBLE CHIN? *grin*
How encouraging... tone up the chin? ***** How on earth do you do that? Hmmm... chomp on more food? And so, as I write this, I'm toning up my chin with a curry potato puff and a large ice teh-tarik and waiting for a colleage to come back with more things to chomp on - Chicken Briyani!
But seriously, the food here at where I work is FANTASTIC!
This Week's Lunch Menu:
Monday - Collagen-rich soup base Ramen ( with HH, the lady who is about to walk down the aisle this Sunday with her catch from Washington)
Tuesday - Japanese Beef Paper Pot (with a brave lady - at least I think anyone who is pregnant at 41 is brave!)
Wednesday - Pomelo Salad with Prawn, Chicken Green Curry and Mango Fried Fish (with my grumpy ex-boss / friend / uber-intelligent-being)
Thursday - Chicken Feet Hor Fun (with the Big One)
Friday - Still waiting for the Briyani....!!!
Kind of contradictory huh? After all these chin-chomping-toning exercises, I still wake up with a DOUBLE CHIN? *grin*
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Fisher-Price >>> toy recall
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Toy-maker Fisher-Price is recalling 83 types of toys - including the popular Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters - because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead.... Owners of a recalled toy can exchange it for a voucher for another product of the same value. To see pictures of the recalled toys, visit http://www.service.mattel.com . For more information, call Mattel's recall hot line at 800-916-4498.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Passport
Eh, can you bring him go make passport?
>>>Submit via internet can already!
Orh, then bring him go get his photo taken.
>>>Digital camera white background can already!
Hmmm... I kinda remember we had a similar conversation some months ago.
>>>Submit via internet can already!
Orh, then bring him go get his photo taken.
>>>Digital camera white background can already!
Hmmm... I kinda remember we had a similar conversation some months ago.
I'm in love...
...because I find myself watching you all the time. And especially before I get to work and whilst you're still asleep, i'd look at you, your face, your hands, your feet, your ears, your hair...and think just how perfect you are. In those moments, nothing else in the world really matters anymore. I.Love.You.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Birthday Party
Got>>> the function room
Considering>>> Chocolate Fountain
Cake>>> Little one has chosen a chocolate cake with a train going round it some weeks back. Will get that one.
More to come...
Considering>>> Chocolate Fountain
Cake>>> Little one has chosen a chocolate cake with a train going round it some weeks back. Will get that one.
More to come...
"Balloon Race"
Photo Source >> Here
Brought the small one to the grass patch adjacent to 'One Marina Boulevard' on Saturday to watch the National Day Parade rehearsals. Had lots of fun and entertainment for close to nothing. The guys with the giant jellyfishes were hidden near where we were, waiting for their cues, and it was quite exciting to watch them go off together! The small one called it the "Balloon Race!" Then there were the choppers and the fireworks... all very amazing stuff for a soon to be 3-year old....which reminds me....... I haven't planned a birthday party for him yet. Oh oh oh oh oh oh dear.......!!!!!!
Friday, July 27, 2007
White shirts
I must ban myself from wearing white colored shirts and ban myself from buying white shirts. I'm wearing this particular one the 3rd time and at the end of today, it will have to go to the bin.
>>>Wear 1st time - Coffee stain on the sleeve... still there after 2 washes
>>>Wear 2nd time - Dropped my pen. Result: Blue ink on 2 different places... still there after 1 wash
>>>Wear 3rd time: Ate "Hock Lam" Beef Noodle but got yummy 'dry' gravy on my WHITE shirt.
It's impossible for me to be neat and clean or to appear neat and clean. JUST IMPOSSIBLE! I should give up trying to look neat and clean in white shirts and stop buying white shirts because of the world doesn't need one more stained white shirt in the dumps!
>>>Wear 1st time - Coffee stain on the sleeve... still there after 2 washes
>>>Wear 2nd time - Dropped my pen. Result: Blue ink on 2 different places... still there after 1 wash
>>>Wear 3rd time: Ate "Hock Lam" Beef Noodle but got yummy 'dry' gravy on my WHITE shirt.
It's impossible for me to be neat and clean or to appear neat and clean. JUST IMPOSSIBLE! I should give up trying to look neat and clean in white shirts and stop buying white shirts because of the world doesn't need one more stained white shirt in the dumps!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Inertia at a subconsious level
Dreamt this: .... someone was asking, " When was the last time you exercised?" Was about to respond..."6 months ago?"...Hang on. Son is almost 3 years old. Correct answer should be , "3 years ago?".
Oh my god!!!
Oh my god!!!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Washington
An old friend of mine is back from Washington! We went to Cafe Cartel @ Siglap for a catch-up.
We chatted while the boy ate bread, french fries with pork ribs & waffles with peaches. He's really been "hungry" since coming out of the hospital and eats and looks like a child who has been starved. Imagine this! >>> Big Head on skinny legs with a protruding tum tum.
Anyway, back to friend. This lady quit her job and flew half way around the world on the pretext of studying for her Masters Degree. Well, not only did she get her postgraduate degree after exactly 12 months, she's now back with the 'real reason'. Better still, she's getting married to 'it'.
A good ending ... with a new beginning.
Am so happy for you HH!
We chatted while the boy ate bread, french fries with pork ribs & waffles with peaches. He's really been "hungry" since coming out of the hospital and eats and looks like a child who has been starved. Imagine this! >>> Big Head on skinny legs with a protruding tum tum.
Anyway, back to friend. This lady quit her job and flew half way around the world on the pretext of studying for her Masters Degree. Well, not only did she get her postgraduate degree after exactly 12 months, she's now back with the 'real reason'. Better still, she's getting married to 'it'.
A good ending ... with a new beginning.
Am so happy for you HH!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Free Flow
There's just so much so much to do, I pat myself on the back if anything gets done. Because what I do more and more is just stare at it and go into a zone where cranial activities of any form becomes suspended.
When I do emerge from that zone, I'd find that my inbox has once again been topped up. How's that? I sure didn't sign up for any free flow in my contract!
Friday, I accepted a 5am conference call thinking it was 5pm. By the time I found out, it was too late for it to be rescheduled... and so at 5am, I called in, tilted the laptop 90 degrees, put my head back on the pillow and fielded the call....all grumpy, tired and miserable since I worked till 1am the night before hitting the bed. 5am in Singapore, 9pm in Europe, 7am in Australia, 5pm in US !!! Eh, whatever happened to the 9 to 5 job?
But I've been happy this week because they let me hire one more person! My happily overworked family of 7 will soon grow to 8. And once proven that this 8th person is overworked as well, I'd get another 2. How wonderful!
*sigh*
When I do emerge from that zone, I'd find that my inbox has once again been topped up. How's that? I sure didn't sign up for any free flow in my contract!
Friday, I accepted a 5am conference call thinking it was 5pm. By the time I found out, it was too late for it to be rescheduled... and so at 5am, I called in, tilted the laptop 90 degrees, put my head back on the pillow and fielded the call....all grumpy, tired and miserable since I worked till 1am the night before hitting the bed. 5am in Singapore, 9pm in Europe, 7am in Australia, 5pm in US !!! Eh, whatever happened to the 9 to 5 job?
But I've been happy this week because they let me hire one more person! My happily overworked family of 7 will soon grow to 8. And once proven that this 8th person is overworked as well, I'd get another 2. How wonderful!
*sigh*
Appetite
Mummy, I'M HUNGRY!
The stuff he's eating today...
Breakfast:
8 oz milk $0.80
Half a cup of muesli with more milk $1
1 bottle yakult $0.70
Tea:
1 cup milo $1
1 apricot & almond yogurt bar $2.80
Lunch:
3/4 bowl of soy-sauce chicken noodle in soup + 5 wantons $3.70
(",)to be continued....
Mid-afternoon snack:
Half a peanut pancake $0.35
1 chocolate teacake $0.50
Dinner:
Rice with pork chops $4.50
Fresh coconut juice. $1
Later... Milk $0.80
`
Total: $16.95
Gosh, I put in the numbers for fun... didn't realised food that a toddler consumes in a day will cost so much!!!
The stuff he's eating today...
Breakfast:
8 oz milk $0.80
Half a cup of muesli with more milk $1
1 bottle yakult $0.70
Tea:
1 cup milo $1
1 apricot & almond yogurt bar $2.80
Lunch:
3/4 bowl of soy-sauce chicken noodle in soup + 5 wantons $3.70
(",)to be continued....
Mid-afternoon snack:
Half a peanut pancake $0.35
1 chocolate teacake $0.50
Dinner:
Rice with pork chops $4.50
Fresh coconut juice. $1
Later... Milk $0.80
`
Total: $16.95
Gosh, I put in the numbers for fun... didn't realised food that a toddler consumes in a day will cost so much!!!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Humpty & Dumpty
We were talking, the boy and I. Before bedtime.
The usual suspects were there. Itsy Bitsy Spider, the 40 Blackbirds and Humpty Dumpty.
Somehow, when Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, Humpty the little boy and Dumpty the mummy both independantly decided to "fall off" as well.
Humpty's head smashed against Dumpty's head. Dumpty cried out in pain. Humpty said "SORRY!" and started rubbing Dumpty's head, asking Dumpty "IS IT PAIN A NOT?" Dumpty said, "YES! IT'S REALLY PAINFUL! RUB HERE, NOT THERE!" Then Dumpty realised Humpty's forehead was red as well. Dumpty pointed to Humpty's head and asked, "Your head hit me too! Is it painful?" Humpty says, "NO! I GOT BONE INSIDE!"
Well, what can we say?
The usual suspects were there. Itsy Bitsy Spider, the 40 Blackbirds and Humpty Dumpty.
Somehow, when Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, Humpty the little boy and Dumpty the mummy both independantly decided to "fall off" as well.
Humpty's head smashed against Dumpty's head. Dumpty cried out in pain. Humpty said "SORRY!" and started rubbing Dumpty's head, asking Dumpty "IS IT PAIN A NOT?" Dumpty said, "YES! IT'S REALLY PAINFUL! RUB HERE, NOT THERE!" Then Dumpty realised Humpty's forehead was red as well. Dumpty pointed to Humpty's head and asked, "Your head hit me too! Is it painful?" Humpty says, "NO! I GOT BONE INSIDE!"
Well, what can we say?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Is Advertising Dead?
Attended a 'breakfast club' meeting organised by the British Council this morning. Charles Wigley, Chairman of BBH Asia Pacific spent 45 minutes presenting his case - Is advertising dead?
My takeaway: Message-driven ads will become a thing of the past. The future calls for ads that are rich in content, engaging enough to be self populated and something that allows for consumer participation and/or conversations...
... am thinking of the poly girl whose mobile phone and then content was stolen. That was properly a darn good example of the ad of the future.
My takeaway: Message-driven ads will become a thing of the past. The future calls for ads that are rich in content, engaging enough to be self populated and something that allows for consumer participation and/or conversations...
... am thinking of the poly girl whose mobile phone and then content was stolen. That was properly a darn good example of the ad of the future.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Out
#1
Out of the hospital! Yeah!
His appetite is not good though - It's really hard to stay enthusiastic about plain porridge with soy sauce and bread with a thin layer of jam.
Somehow, the stay has also transformed him. Maybe it's frustration, maybe boredom, maybe helplessness or maybe just too much TV over the last 3 days. He pretends to shoot things with a pen and tells me, "See, Mummy! Holes over there!". He bangs his fist on the shower door to protest against hair-washing and throws his toys on the floor when they don't do what he wants them to do. He also rains blows on me when I don't give him what he wants.
The last few hours at home though has calmed him down a lot. He's no longer confined to moving within the radius of his IV tube. There's no longer a beeper (on the infusion pump) that goes off ominously. It kept going off last night and the nurses had to adjust the catheter on his hand. The catheter finally did fall off for good last evening but thank goodness they also decided that it was no longer necessary to continue him on the drip.
#2
His grandparents have also decided to stop him going to school. They've tried for the last couple of months to get us to stop sending him there. He's been sick every other week since he started school. I've called the school this morning. A notice of one month has is given. No more school. At least for the rest of this year.
Out of the hospital! Yeah!
His appetite is not good though - It's really hard to stay enthusiastic about plain porridge with soy sauce and bread with a thin layer of jam.
Somehow, the stay has also transformed him. Maybe it's frustration, maybe boredom, maybe helplessness or maybe just too much TV over the last 3 days. He pretends to shoot things with a pen and tells me, "See, Mummy! Holes over there!". He bangs his fist on the shower door to protest against hair-washing and throws his toys on the floor when they don't do what he wants them to do. He also rains blows on me when I don't give him what he wants.
The last few hours at home though has calmed him down a lot. He's no longer confined to moving within the radius of his IV tube. There's no longer a beeper (on the infusion pump) that goes off ominously. It kept going off last night and the nurses had to adjust the catheter on his hand. The catheter finally did fall off for good last evening but thank goodness they also decided that it was no longer necessary to continue him on the drip.
#2
His grandparents have also decided to stop him going to school. They've tried for the last couple of months to get us to stop sending him there. He's been sick every other week since he started school. I've called the school this morning. A notice of one month has is given. No more school. At least for the rest of this year.
Warded
The boy was warded last Friday. Not likely to be discharged tomorrow as we hoped because he just threw up again.
More info here >>> Stomach Virus
More info here >>> Stomach Virus
Friday, July 13, 2007
A good 4 days...
... since Tuesday. Definitely good because nobody died and that's taking an optimistic view on things. Been grappling with a stomach virus that has taken the boys down. First the small one and then now, the big one. Came very close to admitting the small one to the hospital several times during these 4 days.
The doctor told us not to give the small one any milk-based products so he hasn't had any for about 2 days now. At 5am, he asked for milk. I said ok, left the room and waited till he fell asleep before going back in. At 7am, he asked for milk again. I said ok and left the room again. 10 minutes later, he started crying non-stop. In my sleep-deprived stupor, I just told him, we ran out of milk! Mistake. It was to him, the end of the world!
15 minutes later, I bundled him out of the house to 'go and buy milk'. NTUC hadn't opened yet so we waited at the coffeshop nearby, where he had some bread and soya milk. That calmed him down aplenty. Played 'I spy ...' with him and realized he knows quite a lot! >>>Ceiling, square, trolley, rooftops, crane, flag, lady eating pau, man reading newspapers, tomatoes, air-con, light, the letter M , words, various colors but the one I was most impressed with was ... jeans! When NTUC finally opened their doors at 8am, bought a tin of soy-base / milk-free formula.
Hey, why does "APLENTY" mean more than plenty while "APOLITICAL" means not-political??
The doctor told us not to give the small one any milk-based products so he hasn't had any for about 2 days now. At 5am, he asked for milk. I said ok, left the room and waited till he fell asleep before going back in. At 7am, he asked for milk again. I said ok and left the room again. 10 minutes later, he started crying non-stop. In my sleep-deprived stupor, I just told him, we ran out of milk! Mistake. It was to him, the end of the world!
15 minutes later, I bundled him out of the house to 'go and buy milk'. NTUC hadn't opened yet so we waited at the coffeshop nearby, where he had some bread and soya milk. That calmed him down aplenty. Played 'I spy ...' with him and realized he knows quite a lot! >>>Ceiling, square, trolley, rooftops, crane, flag, lady eating pau, man reading newspapers, tomatoes, air-con, light, the letter M , words, various colors but the one I was most impressed with was ... jeans! When NTUC finally opened their doors at 8am, bought a tin of soy-base / milk-free formula.
Hey, why does "APLENTY" mean more than plenty while "APOLITICAL" means not-political??
Monday, July 09, 2007
No school!
After the 5th case of HFMD was identified today, the school called to say that all classes will be suspended for a week.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Sunday
So much to write about today.
It started with a trip to the PD. Doctor goes, "your child doesn't smoke, he doesn't have cancer, he is coughing because he has asthma! No normal person will cough for 2 whole months! If it's viral, he will have a fever and that will go away after threatment or antibiotics! You need to control his condition with asthma medication!!!"
Right, so the Funhaler, an asthma medicine delivery device, which we've unsuccesfully tried to get you to use 10 months ago is back in play. After tonight, we can tell the hiatus didn't make any difference. You still refuse it.
Late afternoon, decided to go to the beach. You found a branch. We found you a line and a hook and also, a dead fish. Tied the line to your branch, the hook to the line, the fish to the hook and threw it back into the water for you. You spent the next half an hour 'fishing' and attracted some attention when some people there thought you had really caught something with your primitive rod.
What a horrid waste of life. Somebody had caught it and obviouly, didn't think much of it. It's tiny but rather than throw it back to live, left it to die rot. Big One said we are only recycling it, rather than have you catch another one...
When it was time to go, you cried buckets. I unhooked the dead fish and put it in your hands. You refused to let it go. Told you it needs to go back to it's mother and back home (heaven) for dinner. With more tears, you threw it back into the water. Very reluctantly. But you did let it go anyways. I'm so very proud of you. *hugs*
Went for dinner at PP hawker centre. You ate very well and so, we let you off to the playground alone after you finished. 15 minutes later, I thought I saw some distress and walked towards you... only to find you hitting another boy. Both of you were going for the same thing. He refused to let go. You hit him. He hung on. You hit him some more.
Pulled you off on the spot and demanded that you apologise. You just cried and cried and cried. So I took you aside, sat you on the bench and waited for you to cry it out. When you were more settled, explained to you that the playground is not yours, it is common property and you need to learn how to share and play with other people because the playground is meant for everybody and that if you want to continue playing, you have to apologise to the boy and learn how to share and not fight or hit other people.
Thing went peacefully for a while, until a boy 3 or 4 years older (not the same guy you hit) decided to rock you violently while you were on the spring rocker. You yelled for him to "STOP!" but he didn't. We intervened only when you lost your grip and slipped off. By then, you were in tears.
Later, the boy tried again, a second time. The Big One intervene and told him off. He stopped.
Anyway, it was time to go. On the way back to the car...
Were you scared when the boy rocked you?
>>>Yes
Were you angry when the boy didn't stop?
>>>Yes
Did Papa come and save you?
>>>Yes
Next time you have to learn how to save yourself ok?
>>> I cannot lift me up!! HOW??
(So true! Nobody has the power to airlift themselves!)
....Eh, you think of a way larh ok?
>>> Ok.
It started with a trip to the PD. Doctor goes, "your child doesn't smoke, he doesn't have cancer, he is coughing because he has asthma! No normal person will cough for 2 whole months! If it's viral, he will have a fever and that will go away after threatment or antibiotics! You need to control his condition with asthma medication!!!"
Right, so the Funhaler, an asthma medicine delivery device, which we've unsuccesfully tried to get you to use 10 months ago is back in play. After tonight, we can tell the hiatus didn't make any difference. You still refuse it.
Late afternoon, decided to go to the beach. You found a branch. We found you a line and a hook and also, a dead fish. Tied the line to your branch, the hook to the line, the fish to the hook and threw it back into the water for you. You spent the next half an hour 'fishing' and attracted some attention when some people there thought you had really caught something with your primitive rod.
What a horrid waste of life. Somebody had caught it and obviouly, didn't think much of it. It's tiny but rather than throw it back to live, left it to die rot. Big One said we are only recycling it, rather than have you catch another one...
When it was time to go, you cried buckets. I unhooked the dead fish and put it in your hands. You refused to let it go. Told you it needs to go back to it's mother and back home (heaven) for dinner. With more tears, you threw it back into the water. Very reluctantly. But you did let it go anyways. I'm so very proud of you. *hugs*
Went for dinner at PP hawker centre. You ate very well and so, we let you off to the playground alone after you finished. 15 minutes later, I thought I saw some distress and walked towards you... only to find you hitting another boy. Both of you were going for the same thing. He refused to let go. You hit him. He hung on. You hit him some more.
Pulled you off on the spot and demanded that you apologise. You just cried and cried and cried. So I took you aside, sat you on the bench and waited for you to cry it out. When you were more settled, explained to you that the playground is not yours, it is common property and you need to learn how to share and play with other people because the playground is meant for everybody and that if you want to continue playing, you have to apologise to the boy and learn how to share and not fight or hit other people.
Thing went peacefully for a while, until a boy 3 or 4 years older (not the same guy you hit) decided to rock you violently while you were on the spring rocker. You yelled for him to "STOP!" but he didn't. We intervened only when you lost your grip and slipped off. By then, you were in tears.
Later, the boy tried again, a second time. The Big One intervene and told him off. He stopped.
Anyway, it was time to go. On the way back to the car...
Were you scared when the boy rocked you?
>>>Yes
Were you angry when the boy didn't stop?
>>>Yes
Did Papa come and save you?
>>>Yes
Next time you have to learn how to save yourself ok?
>>> I cannot lift me up!! HOW??
(So true! Nobody has the power to airlift themselves!)
....Eh, you think of a way larh ok?
>>> Ok.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
S$250,000.00
A property agent called me out of the blue last night. He offered 250K more for the apartment we already sold in January this year. How's that? Spent about 20 minutes thinking about it, then went to bed and slept.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Black Sesame Gelato place
Y2K Super Cafe
43 Dixon Street
Sydney 2000
Ph(02) 9281 2363
I don't get per diems in this company.... wondering if I can put in the claim for a $3.50 scoop of ice-cream...dessert mah, part of dinner what hor? Btw, dinner today was at 'BBQ King' - another of my favourite eating place here. It's at 18 Goulburn Street. Ate charsiew & roast duck dry noodles. Yummy! Like how they'll serve a very large bowl of complimentary piping hot watercress pork rib soup the moment you sit down. Perfect in this blustery weather. Feeling very contented.
43 Dixon Street
Sydney 2000
Ph(02) 9281 2363
I don't get per diems in this company.... wondering if I can put in the claim for a $3.50 scoop of ice-cream...dessert mah, part of dinner what hor? Btw, dinner today was at 'BBQ King' - another of my favourite eating place here. It's at 18 Goulburn Street. Ate charsiew & roast duck dry noodles. Yummy! Like how they'll serve a very large bowl of complimentary piping hot watercress pork rib soup the moment you sit down. Perfect in this blustery weather. Feeling very contented.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sydney
Am here again. Just landed about an hour ago. There's something about this place that keeps wanting me back.
This is the first time I wasn't questioned and also the first time that my belongings weren't examined by the airport authorities here - which is a good thing. But routines, good or bad, work their way into one's expectations of how things should be and even when it's a change for the better, you'd still get a tat suspicious. Or maybe that's just me. Hahhahaa!!
It's 18 degrees and the sky is clear. Lovely. Will walk out to buy myself some dinner later. Won't leave this place without having some of what I consider, the best black sesame gelato on earth! I know where is it, how to get there but don't know the address. Will go find out later and record it here.
The next few days will be meetings, meetings and more meetings! Hopefully will get an hour off to go to Target - my favourite shopping place for the boy's clothes and maybe something from the Stella McCartney range for myself?
Also picked up this book "The Art of Happiness at Work" by His Holiness The Dalai Lama & Howard C.Cutler, M.D. at the airport. Here's an excerpt which I find interesting...
"...there will always be problems in life. It is just not possible to go through life without encountering problems... the better we are able to accept that fact, the better we will be able to cope with life's disappointments...take the example of a person who likes to eat sweet things, but doesn't like sour things. Then, there is a certain kind of fruit that this person enjoys. That fruit may be mostly sweet, but it may also have a little bit of sourness in it. That person continues to enjoy the fruit, they don't stop eating it because it has a little sour taste. If they want to continue to enjoy eating that fruit, then they have to accept the little bit of sourness in it. You can't separate the sweet form the sour in that piece of fruit; it is always going to be mixed. Life is just like that. As long as you are living, life will have good things but also some problems that you don't like. That's life."
Fruit for thought eh?
This is the first time I wasn't questioned and also the first time that my belongings weren't examined by the airport authorities here - which is a good thing. But routines, good or bad, work their way into one's expectations of how things should be and even when it's a change for the better, you'd still get a tat suspicious. Or maybe that's just me. Hahhahaa!!
It's 18 degrees and the sky is clear. Lovely. Will walk out to buy myself some dinner later. Won't leave this place without having some of what I consider, the best black sesame gelato on earth! I know where is it, how to get there but don't know the address. Will go find out later and record it here.
The next few days will be meetings, meetings and more meetings! Hopefully will get an hour off to go to Target - my favourite shopping place for the boy's clothes and maybe something from the Stella McCartney range for myself?
Also picked up this book "The Art of Happiness at Work" by His Holiness The Dalai Lama & Howard C.Cutler, M.D. at the airport. Here's an excerpt which I find interesting...
"...there will always be problems in life. It is just not possible to go through life without encountering problems... the better we are able to accept that fact, the better we will be able to cope with life's disappointments...take the example of a person who likes to eat sweet things, but doesn't like sour things. Then, there is a certain kind of fruit that this person enjoys. That fruit may be mostly sweet, but it may also have a little bit of sourness in it. That person continues to enjoy the fruit, they don't stop eating it because it has a little sour taste. If they want to continue to enjoy eating that fruit, then they have to accept the little bit of sourness in it. You can't separate the sweet form the sour in that piece of fruit; it is always going to be mixed. Life is just like that. As long as you are living, life will have good things but also some problems that you don't like. That's life."
Fruit for thought eh?
Sunday, July 01, 2007
First & Last...
...soccer game at our dear old Singapore National Stadium, before it gets torn down and replaced with a new. I have never watched a soccer game live before and neither has the boy but he absorb the spirit of the Singapore Lions fans like a sponge. Before the half time was over, he had eaten an entire hot dog, participated in 3 Kallang waves and was adeptly cheering and moaning and swearing like a hard-core fan.
Result of yesterday's last match >>> Singapore 0 - Australia 3.
Friday, June 29, 2007
The end of 4 weeks.
Today marks the end of 4 weeks at my new job. I'm honestly surprised that it has been four weeks. It has not been an easy 4 weeks but the time just flew by so quickly and for better or worse, I can already see the whole month of July zipping by.
Amazing.
This, compared to the 6 weeks at home, in between jobs, which went by very. very. very. very. slowly.
I love the time spent at home, although on hindsight, I wasn't doing very well on the mundane end, getting overly flustered by housework and scolding both Big and Small for not aiming properly. Petty but true.
Part of me wants to be home with the Small. But when at home, I feel very ill-equipped for the role of a homemaker. So now that I'm working, I feel guilty about not being home, especially for times when the Small One tells me, over the phone earlier this week, "Mummy, I cry for you just now. "
He's really sweet and growing up quickly too. Just want to make sure I don't miss out on him while working.
It's always going to be this way right? Grass greener on the other side? Just wondering if there is a good balance and if there is, what it is.
Been thinking a bit about the future as well. What I aimed for, the targets I've set in my 20's have been more or less achieved, amazingly, through luck and/or hard work and I think I just need a greater sense of purpose for the rest of my 30's.
Amazing.
This, compared to the 6 weeks at home, in between jobs, which went by very. very. very. very. slowly.
I love the time spent at home, although on hindsight, I wasn't doing very well on the mundane end, getting overly flustered by housework and scolding both Big and Small for not aiming properly. Petty but true.
Part of me wants to be home with the Small. But when at home, I feel very ill-equipped for the role of a homemaker. So now that I'm working, I feel guilty about not being home, especially for times when the Small One tells me, over the phone earlier this week, "Mummy, I cry for you just now. "
He's really sweet and growing up quickly too. Just want to make sure I don't miss out on him while working.
It's always going to be this way right? Grass greener on the other side? Just wondering if there is a good balance and if there is, what it is.
Been thinking a bit about the future as well. What I aimed for, the targets I've set in my 20's have been more or less achieved, amazingly, through luck and/or hard work and I think I just need a greater sense of purpose for the rest of my 30's.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Grumble grumble
Left before the son woke yesterday.
Arrive home after son slept.
Left home today before the son woke.
Excited about having dinner with son and the Big One.
They are on the way.
Only.
Son has fallen asleep in the car.
Darn!
Arrive home after son slept.
Left home today before the son woke.
Excited about having dinner with son and the Big One.
They are on the way.
Only.
Son has fallen asleep in the car.
Darn!
Monday, June 25, 2007
YY & QQ
These 2 are born 2 weeks apart.The boy is older
but the girl walked, jumped & sang
before he did.
Funny these 2.
Duality
I can't decide whether I'm doing well or doing sh*ts. Am I happy or am I not? Should I be or shouldn't I be. Neither either. That's kinda weird.
I get distracted easily. I see someone with a whole durian in one hand and a mobile phone in another and wonder, not about what the heck he's doing, whether or not he'll put the wrong object to his ears but rather, about his haircut. If I'm taking the train and trying to manoeuvre myself to the front of the the escalator during the peak of peak hour, I think maybe, that's how penguins arrange themselves. Side to side, side to side, small steps, don't overstep and fall over each other. On the crowded underpass, I listen to the multitude of heels & soles slapping themselves on the granite floor and wonder if there's a longer underpass, whether everyone will eventually fall in step and march instead.
Need a purpose.
Soon.
I get distracted easily. I see someone with a whole durian in one hand and a mobile phone in another and wonder, not about what the heck he's doing, whether or not he'll put the wrong object to his ears but rather, about his haircut. If I'm taking the train and trying to manoeuvre myself to the front of the the escalator during the peak of peak hour, I think maybe, that's how penguins arrange themselves. Side to side, side to side, small steps, don't overstep and fall over each other. On the crowded underpass, I listen to the multitude of heels & soles slapping themselves on the granite floor and wonder if there's a longer underpass, whether everyone will eventually fall in step and march instead.
Need a purpose.
Soon.
Friday, June 22, 2007
(sic)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
Sic:
–adverb Latin.
so; thus: usually written parenthetically to denote that a word, phrase, passage, etc., that may appear strange or incorrect has been written intentionally or has been quoted verbatim: He signed his name as e. e. cummings (sic).
Some stuff you see but never bothered/have the time to find out what it is. For me, this is one of it. (",)
Sic:
–adverb Latin.
so; thus: usually written parenthetically to denote that a word, phrase, passage, etc., that may appear strange or incorrect has been written intentionally or has been quoted verbatim: He signed his name as e. e. cummings (sic).
Some stuff you see but never bothered/have the time to find out what it is. For me, this is one of it. (",)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Spit it out too!
Hmm..... if you are really angry at someone and want them to do something about it and they say, " I see that you are angry/frustrated/in despair"... it means that they have identified your emotions and therefore will be wired in such a way that they actually become less responsive to your anger?
Spit it out!
CHICAGO, June 20 (Reuters) - Putting feelings into words makes sadness and anger less intense, U.S. brain researchers said on Wednesday, in a finding that explains why talking to a therapist -- or even a sympathetic bartender -- often makes people feel better.
They said talking about negative feelings activates a part of the brain responsible for impulse control.
"This region of the brain seems to be involved in putting on the brakes," said University of California, Los Angeles researcher Matthew Lieberman, whose study appears in the journal Psychological Science.
He and colleagues scanned the brains of 30 people -- 18 women and 12 men between 18 and 36 -- who were shown pictures of faces expressing strong emotions.
They were asked to categorize the feelings in words like sad or angry, or to choose between two gender-specific names like "Sally or Harry" that matched the face.
What they found is that when people attached a word like angry to an angry-looking face, the response in the amygdala portion of the brain that handles fear, panic and other strong emotions decreased.
"This seems to dampen down the response in these basic emotional circuits in the brain -- in this case the amygdala," Lieberman said in a telephone interview.
What lights up instead is the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, part of the brain that controls impulses.
"This is the only region of the entire brain that is more active when you choose an emotion word for the picture than when you choose a name for the picture," he said.
He said the same region of the brain has been found in prior studies to play a role in motor control.
"If you are driving along and you see a yellow light, you have to inhibit one response in order to step on the brake," he said. "This same region helps to inhibit emotional responses as well."
The results may alter the traditional view of why talking about feelings helps.
"I think we all believe that by talking about our feelings, we reach deep new insights, and that understanding is what transforms us," he said.
"What we see is something that at first blush is far more trivial. By simply putting the name to an emotion, the person doesn't feel like they've come to any new insight. And yet we see this dampening response anyway."
Lieberman said while there likely are benefits to gaining enhanced understanding, talking about feelings may do something more basic.
"It's not just the deep thoughts," he said. "It's something about the way we are built."
They said talking about negative feelings activates a part of the brain responsible for impulse control.
"This region of the brain seems to be involved in putting on the brakes," said University of California, Los Angeles researcher Matthew Lieberman, whose study appears in the journal Psychological Science.
He and colleagues scanned the brains of 30 people -- 18 women and 12 men between 18 and 36 -- who were shown pictures of faces expressing strong emotions.
They were asked to categorize the feelings in words like sad or angry, or to choose between two gender-specific names like "Sally or Harry" that matched the face.
What they found is that when people attached a word like angry to an angry-looking face, the response in the amygdala portion of the brain that handles fear, panic and other strong emotions decreased.
"This seems to dampen down the response in these basic emotional circuits in the brain -- in this case the amygdala," Lieberman said in a telephone interview.
What lights up instead is the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, part of the brain that controls impulses.
"This is the only region of the entire brain that is more active when you choose an emotion word for the picture than when you choose a name for the picture," he said.
He said the same region of the brain has been found in prior studies to play a role in motor control.
"If you are driving along and you see a yellow light, you have to inhibit one response in order to step on the brake," he said. "This same region helps to inhibit emotional responses as well."
The results may alter the traditional view of why talking about feelings helps.
"I think we all believe that by talking about our feelings, we reach deep new insights, and that understanding is what transforms us," he said.
"What we see is something that at first blush is far more trivial. By simply putting the name to an emotion, the person doesn't feel like they've come to any new insight. And yet we see this dampening response anyway."
Lieberman said while there likely are benefits to gaining enhanced understanding, talking about feelings may do something more basic.
"It's not just the deep thoughts," he said. "It's something about the way we are built."
Don't go to work !!!
This morning, the boy was in tears, crying, " Don't go to work! Don't go to work! Don't go to work! ......... Don't go to work!". Oh dear, I really don't need external protests at the moment.
Spent time with him this morning, feeding him baguettes with kaya spread, milo, bathing him and giving him lots of hugs and kisses......Before I left, he says, "Mummy! See you tomorrow!". Hahhahhahaaa (",)
Spent time with him this morning, feeding him baguettes with kaya spread, milo, bathing him and giving him lots of hugs and kisses......Before I left, he says, "Mummy! See you tomorrow!". Hahhahhahaaa (",)
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Give her back!
Every now and then, I'd visit this site to check if the girl who has been abducted has been found and my heart aches for her parents when I see that she's still not. Tonight, I shall be praying for all the parents in the world who has lost their kids through abductions.
Police Story Part IV
Here's the link to Part I,II and III
We still haven't got back the phones but we now know that the woman was a student!
This story has gone from being stupid (for losing the phones) to interesting (the police investigation) to unbelievable (on how the culprit was caught) to just plain outrageous.
Now, because the father had not steered his daughter back in the right direction, even encouraging her actions by taking the phone for his own use instead of getting her to return them, the police is now checking through her school records so as to recommend the appropriate charge to the courts.
We are not for destroying anyone's future but we have no power to influence the police's recommendations either.
Well, the father was the one who had a chance to make a wrong right but didn't. Have zero sympathies for this person.
We still haven't got back the phones but we now know that the woman was a student!
This story has gone from being stupid (for losing the phones) to interesting (the police investigation) to unbelievable (on how the culprit was caught) to just plain outrageous.
Now, because the father had not steered his daughter back in the right direction, even encouraging her actions by taking the phone for his own use instead of getting her to return them, the police is now checking through her school records so as to recommend the appropriate charge to the courts.
We are not for destroying anyone's future but we have no power to influence the police's recommendations either.
Well, the father was the one who had a chance to make a wrong right but didn't. Have zero sympathies for this person.
Parent-Teacher Meeting
Went to meet your teachers yesterday. Received a progress report.
Symbols:
A = Is Able To
I = Is Beginning To
O = Not Able To
Gross Motor Skills:
You got an "A" for all of them: Sit on the floor with legs crossed; Jump in place; Walk forward to a target on a path; Walk while carrying an object; Throw a bean bag; Roll a ball; Kick a large ball; Imitate a body movement.
Fine Motor Skills:
Another sweep of "A": Thread beads onto a string; Build a tower of five blocks; Turn one page of a book at a time.
Self-Help Skills:
Straight A's : Take care of toilet needs independently; Able to use tissue when needed Put on shoes; Feed himself; Wash and dry hands.
Social-emotional Development:
All "A" except for one: A's for Ready to try new activities; Respond when called by name; Play with other children; Share with others; Make a choice when asked: Carry out simple instructions; Establish eye contact during verbal interactions....and an "I" for ability to focus.
Reading Readiness:
Again, all A's and one "I": Enjoy stories; Enjoy books; Enjoy rhymes and try to repeat them; Identify primary colours ( red, blue, yellow); Name different animals; Name different modes of transportation; Name everyday things (table, chair, bowl, plate); Identify basic geometric shapes ( circle, square, triangle); Identify other children by their names: Express feelings - happy, sad, angry; Recognise common sounds; Identify characters (A-M)... and an "I" for ability to recognise own name in written form.
Number Readiness:
Straight A's : Rote count from 1-10; Count meaningfully from 1-5; Complete simple wooden puzzles; Match colors; Match basic geometric shapes; Know the names of geometric shapes; Draw a line; Draw a circle.
Chinese Language (Mandarin):
Hmmm..... one "A" & 3 "I": A for Listen and enjoy songs and rhymes. I's for Sing and recite songs and rhymes; Respond appropriately to simple sentences and phrases; Recognise pictures.
Understanding Body Parts:
Straight A's: Point to main body parts; Identify the five senses and Draw a Man test
This looks quite grotesque but they were impressed with the details. Your "Man" had eyes, mouth and hair!
Symbols:
A = Is Able To
I = Is Beginning To
O = Not Able To
Gross Motor Skills:
You got an "A" for all of them: Sit on the floor with legs crossed; Jump in place; Walk forward to a target on a path; Walk while carrying an object; Throw a bean bag; Roll a ball; Kick a large ball; Imitate a body movement.
Fine Motor Skills:
Another sweep of "A": Thread beads onto a string; Build a tower of five blocks; Turn one page of a book at a time.
Self-Help Skills:
Straight A's : Take care of toilet needs independently; Able to use tissue when needed Put on shoes; Feed himself; Wash and dry hands.
Social-emotional Development:
All "A" except for one: A's for Ready to try new activities; Respond when called by name; Play with other children; Share with others; Make a choice when asked: Carry out simple instructions; Establish eye contact during verbal interactions....and an "I" for ability to focus.
Reading Readiness:
Again, all A's and one "I": Enjoy stories; Enjoy books; Enjoy rhymes and try to repeat them; Identify primary colours ( red, blue, yellow); Name different animals; Name different modes of transportation; Name everyday things (table, chair, bowl, plate); Identify basic geometric shapes ( circle, square, triangle); Identify other children by their names: Express feelings - happy, sad, angry; Recognise common sounds; Identify characters (A-M)... and an "I" for ability to recognise own name in written form.
Number Readiness:
Straight A's : Rote count from 1-10; Count meaningfully from 1-5; Complete simple wooden puzzles; Match colors; Match basic geometric shapes; Know the names of geometric shapes; Draw a line; Draw a circle.
Chinese Language (Mandarin):
Hmmm..... one "A" & 3 "I": A for Listen and enjoy songs and rhymes. I's for Sing and recite songs and rhymes; Respond appropriately to simple sentences and phrases; Recognise pictures.
Understanding Body Parts:
Straight A's: Point to main body parts; Identify the five senses and Draw a Man test
This looks quite grotesque but they were impressed with the details. Your "Man" had eyes, mouth and hair!Lastly, a note from your teachers: BY is a very cheerful and lively boy who is well-liked by all his teachers. He is a very sociable boy who is capable of getting along well with his peers. In general, it is also observed that he seems to show special interest in all form of creative craft activities and would usually participate very well in it. Well done, BY ! Keep it up!
Friday, June 15, 2007
I stopped breathing...
I have been working and working and working this week. I think I stopped breathing on Wednesday morning. Didn't sleep much that night - working again.
On Thursday, I looked through my employment contract, paying close attention on the clause on notice period. Thursday evening, I had a meeting which ended disastrously in my opinion. 2 people tried to explain to me how I should not do the things that I wanted to do. I frowned, shook my head and told them, "I don't understand what you are saying!" One walked out of the room after trying twice. The other tried explaining it several more times and gave up.
Friday morning 3am, I woke up from a non-sleep. The mind was chattering non-stop. Anyway, I woke up from the non-sleep and drew something like this....
On Thursday, I looked through my employment contract, paying close attention on the clause on notice period. Thursday evening, I had a meeting which ended disastrously in my opinion. 2 people tried to explain to me how I should not do the things that I wanted to do. I frowned, shook my head and told them, "I don't understand what you are saying!" One walked out of the room after trying twice. The other tried explaining it several more times and gave up.
Friday morning 3am, I woke up from a non-sleep. The mind was chattering non-stop. Anyway, I woke up from the non-sleep and drew something like this....
Noon, I presented it to my boss and walked out of the meeting room breathing again.
Strolled to the coffeeshop nearby and bought myself a chicken drumstick from the Nasi Padang store and boy, was it the tastiest thing I ate this week!
Now, I wonder how my lunches will taste like next week.... >>>Better I hope!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Buses should stay in bus lanes!
After I nearly got killed by (1) the bus filtering out onto our lane and (2) the man behind the wheels in our car who refused to give way to the bus that is filtering out, I screamed "F**K!" at the man in the car. He retorted in almost a split second, "Buses should stay in bus lanes!"
Refused to talk to the man after that. He came with durian puffs from Goodwood Park to pick me up after work. No apologies, just puffs. Well, that's the closest I get to an apology.
Fast forward to this morning:
Buses should stay in bus lanes arh?
>>Yes.
So buses cannot turn right arh?
>> No.
So buses can only go straight?
>> Yes.
Buses can turn left?
>>Can.
Buses cannot turn right?
>> Cannot. Bus lanes are drawn for them. They must stay in the bus lanes. Cars get fined they go into the bus lanes so they should get fined if they come out of bus lanes.
???!???
Refused to talk to the man after that. He came with durian puffs from Goodwood Park to pick me up after work. No apologies, just puffs. Well, that's the closest I get to an apology.
Fast forward to this morning:
Buses should stay in bus lanes arh?
>>Yes.
So buses cannot turn right arh?
>> No.
So buses can only go straight?
>> Yes.
Buses can turn left?
>>Can.
Buses cannot turn right?
>> Cannot. Bus lanes are drawn for them. They must stay in the bus lanes. Cars get fined they go into the bus lanes so they should get fined if they come out of bus lanes.
???!???
Monday, June 11, 2007
eggsnchicks
Quite a few have asked me why eggsnchicks ? Well, goes like this.. when I was pregnant with BY and growing bigger by the day, all I could think of was eggs........ why can't I just lay an egg and sit on it? Plus, an egg should be easier to pass through the 'AHEM' then a baby right? There you go!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
1st week @ work
Haven't been this busy in a while. Was running from one meeting to another the whole day today and missed out on 3 calls from home. Panicked when I saw it. Called back. My dad told me it was my son who called me.
What? He's two and a half and a bit more. He called me? Yah, he did. Apparently he asked Ah Gong for my number and punched them into the phone himself, which means he recognises the numbers and if you know my mobile number, you'd know that that's a lot of numbers to recognise. On the way home with the Big One, I told him I didn't answer my son's calls! He called 3 times and Mummy didn't answer any one of them! Quite horrible. So now I'm hoping that the next time he calls, I'd pick it up and also that he won't start to call me too often because I'm really really busy at work.
Work. There's just so much to pick up and the whole business is entirely a new species to me but everything so far has been interesting, exciting & engaging. I feel adequately challenged and my motivation level remains at a positively high level at this point.
Also, as an added plus, I'm located in a food paradise! Monday, I had Indonesian-Thai. Tuesday was Hock Lam Beef Noodles. Wednesday, Vietnamese with CC. Thursday, Italian with a colleague. Friday was a grab and go but the grabbed egg/mayo Panani I had on the go was really really yummy, nevermind if it was a chock full of cholesterol.
What? He's two and a half and a bit more. He called me? Yah, he did. Apparently he asked Ah Gong for my number and punched them into the phone himself, which means he recognises the numbers and if you know my mobile number, you'd know that that's a lot of numbers to recognise. On the way home with the Big One, I told him I didn't answer my son's calls! He called 3 times and Mummy didn't answer any one of them! Quite horrible. So now I'm hoping that the next time he calls, I'd pick it up and also that he won't start to call me too often because I'm really really busy at work.
Work. There's just so much to pick up and the whole business is entirely a new species to me but everything so far has been interesting, exciting & engaging. I feel adequately challenged and my motivation level remains at a positively high level at this point.
Also, as an added plus, I'm located in a food paradise! Monday, I had Indonesian-Thai. Tuesday was Hock Lam Beef Noodles. Wednesday, Vietnamese with CC. Thursday, Italian with a colleague. Friday was a grab and go but the grabbed egg/mayo Panani I had on the go was really really yummy, nevermind if it was a chock full of cholesterol.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
News
...hasn't been good lately. Which could have explained why I'm "flossing my heels".
Christine's mother has been diagnosed with cancer. She asks us to pray for them. I will most definitely. Stay strong!
SW's mother had a bad fall and now has problems moving around. She will have to fly back to SF to be with her parents and this is not a particularly good time for her to be away from SG. Hugs to you my dear.
The Big One's company is pulling out of this region. He has about a month's worth of employment left.
...and I think the list will grow if I try to find more things that have gone 'wrong'. So will stop that right now.
Christine's mother has been diagnosed with cancer. She asks us to pray for them. I will most definitely. Stay strong!
SW's mother had a bad fall and now has problems moving around. She will have to fly back to SF to be with her parents and this is not a particularly good time for her to be away from SG. Hugs to you my dear.
The Big One's company is pulling out of this region. He has about a month's worth of employment left.
...and I think the list will grow if I try to find more things that have gone 'wrong'. So will stop that right now.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Police Story Part III
Here's Part 1 & Part 2
Well, so the Big One's persistence paid off. The police found the woman who took the 2 phones he left at the ATM. She returned one of them. The other one is with her father who is travelling at the moment and will not be back till 2 weeks later. So when he does, she'll bring the other phone back to the station. Then, the police will apply for a court order for the phones to be returned to us.
I have my own opinions about this woman... but you can form your own.
Here's Big One's story... or as I translate it: He was at the ATM machine. There was a ledge. He put his 2 phones on the ledge ( 1 with Thai SIM card and another with Singapore SIM card - just in case you are wondering and no, I don't think he has a wife in Thailand), withdrew some cash and walked away. About 50 metres or about the equivalent of 2 minutes later, he realised he had forgotten the phones and runs back, he thinks, past the woman. Phones are gone! He borrows one from an Indian couple and rings his own number. It rang 5 times and stopped. He tried calling again but the phones are now switched off.
What happened between those 2 minutes? The woman has withdrew money from the ATM. Her transaction data has been captured. She takes the "FREE" phones on the ledge and the CCTV captures her taking them. She walks away. She sees a man running past her back to the ATM. She knows what the man is looking for. She hurries away. She receives a call on one of the phones she has taken. She struggles to find the off switch. After 5 rings, she managed to switch it off. She quickly removes herself from the scene.
Then, she goes home. She throws away the SIM cards in these 2 phones. She deletes all the data in these 2 phones. She rewards herself with one of them and gives the other one to her father. The father is pleased to get a gift from her daughter. Her father doesn't question how she got her hands on the new phones or why she has 'bought' them without a box or whether if she has 'found' them, if she has tried finding its owner. He happily uses it and takes it overseas.
"you qi fu bi you qi zi" or in English, Like Father Like Son.
I hope we will never be that kind of parent to our son.
Well, so the Big One's persistence paid off. The police found the woman who took the 2 phones he left at the ATM. She returned one of them. The other one is with her father who is travelling at the moment and will not be back till 2 weeks later. So when he does, she'll bring the other phone back to the station. Then, the police will apply for a court order for the phones to be returned to us.
I have my own opinions about this woman... but you can form your own.
Here's Big One's story... or as I translate it: He was at the ATM machine. There was a ledge. He put his 2 phones on the ledge ( 1 with Thai SIM card and another with Singapore SIM card - just in case you are wondering and no, I don't think he has a wife in Thailand), withdrew some cash and walked away. About 50 metres or about the equivalent of 2 minutes later, he realised he had forgotten the phones and runs back, he thinks, past the woman. Phones are gone! He borrows one from an Indian couple and rings his own number. It rang 5 times and stopped. He tried calling again but the phones are now switched off.
What happened between those 2 minutes? The woman has withdrew money from the ATM. Her transaction data has been captured. She takes the "FREE" phones on the ledge and the CCTV captures her taking them. She walks away. She sees a man running past her back to the ATM. She knows what the man is looking for. She hurries away. She receives a call on one of the phones she has taken. She struggles to find the off switch. After 5 rings, she managed to switch it off. She quickly removes herself from the scene.
Then, she goes home. She throws away the SIM cards in these 2 phones. She deletes all the data in these 2 phones. She rewards herself with one of them and gives the other one to her father. The father is pleased to get a gift from her daughter. Her father doesn't question how she got her hands on the new phones or why she has 'bought' them without a box or whether if she has 'found' them, if she has tried finding its owner. He happily uses it and takes it overseas.
"you qi fu bi you qi zi" or in English, Like Father Like Son.
I hope we will never be that kind of parent to our son.
Heels
Just grumpy. First about the floss and now about my shoes. They are killing me!
Wondering what an idiotmatic phrase like "Flossing my heels" will mean. If you have any suggestions, please share. I need to laugh.
Wondering what an idiotmatic phrase like "Flossing my heels" will mean. If you have any suggestions, please share. I need to laugh.
Dental Floss
Just bought another roll of dental floss. I think I beat the Singapore national average on dental floss consumption by 2 miles. If there's a contest for free lifetime supply of floss, I'd put my hand up for it. It'll free up enough cash to pay for the boy's endowment fund.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Excursion
The boy is probably getting onto to a bus as I type this. His school is taking them out for an excursion. They are taking a bus to the theatre to watch a play. The whole night yesterday and this morning, I'm telling him to listen to your teachers, don't run around, sit properly on the bus, don't get scared by loud noises or dark places, listen to your teachers, don't run around, sit properly, don't run around, sit properly on the bus, listen to your teachers, don't get scared by loud noises or dark places, listen to your teachers...............and .................oh dear, just realised I forgot to tell him to have fun!!!
He's only 2 and a half and a bit more and he's going on an excursion without me!
God, please watch over him.
He's only 2 and a half and a bit more and he's going on an excursion without me!
God, please watch over him.
Monday, June 04, 2007
First few hours at work
Got
- DELL Latitude D400 + Docking Station
- Season Parking Pass
- Desk & chair
- Phone w/o phone number
Inherited
- Desk Calendar
- Various pieces of used stationery (including a pencil with teethmarks)
Do not have
- Namecard
- Phone number
Moving from excitement into confusion as the day progresses... Wish me luck!
- DELL Latitude D400 + Docking Station
- Season Parking Pass
- Desk & chair
- Phone w/o phone number
Inherited
- Desk Calendar
- Various pieces of used stationery (including a pencil with teethmarks)
Do not have
- Namecard
- Phone number
Moving from excitement into confusion as the day progresses... Wish me luck!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Staying at home
Was asked again last night, "Do you have to work?"
I immediately start to mutter things like ... "I don't have to (financially) I think but I don't do very well at home as a housewife!"
6 weeks. Been at home 6 weeks since I stopped work. I clean the house up an average 1.3 X a week and wonder why it is not spanking clean. The Big One has found many a strange place to put his smelly socks - the most recent, on the chair in the study. The Small One has just been toilet trained but has yet to jet properly.
Small things aside, I really enjoy my time at home with the both of them. The small one takes up most of it and saps up energy faster than I can produce them but he's such an enjoyable little fellow to be with. I miss him so much whenever he's not around me. The big one, well, in our 6 year marriage, this is the first time we have our own place to call home and we are only just learning to live with each other by ourselves. He declares loudly that he hates housework but still helps out and so I think we can still live under the same roof for a long while more.
Come Monday, I go back to work. What will going back to work cost? My relationship with the boy? My marriage? Or will it teach us all not to take things for granted and bring us more freedom to pursue the things we like?
I'm hoping it will be the latter.
I immediately start to mutter things like ... "I don't have to (financially) I think but I don't do very well at home as a housewife!"
6 weeks. Been at home 6 weeks since I stopped work. I clean the house up an average 1.3 X a week and wonder why it is not spanking clean. The Big One has found many a strange place to put his smelly socks - the most recent, on the chair in the study. The Small One has just been toilet trained but has yet to jet properly.
Small things aside, I really enjoy my time at home with the both of them. The small one takes up most of it and saps up energy faster than I can produce them but he's such an enjoyable little fellow to be with. I miss him so much whenever he's not around me. The big one, well, in our 6 year marriage, this is the first time we have our own place to call home and we are only just learning to live with each other by ourselves. He declares loudly that he hates housework but still helps out and so I think we can still live under the same roof for a long while more.
Come Monday, I go back to work. What will going back to work cost? My relationship with the boy? My marriage? Or will it teach us all not to take things for granted and bring us more freedom to pursue the things we like?
I'm hoping it will be the latter.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Dinner
Son fell off the chair tonight. This seems to be his preferred stunt when we have friends over. The other day, when we had a BBQ, he fell off the bench backwards, hitting his head twice. The first hit, against the edge of the table and the second, when he landed on the floor. Glad to report that once again, the son has survived.
DD popped over for dinner. It was a no frills, no fuss, home cooked meal and I really enjoyed making it. Check out his photos of the food!
DD popped over for dinner. It was a no frills, no fuss, home cooked meal and I really enjoyed making it. Check out his photos of the food!
Vegetables
Prawns with garlic & wine
Pork with Ginger & Spring Onions He also took some very beautiful shots of our family and the son.
Playing with bread
Making sour faceHey, we really enjoyed the evening. Thank you for coming by!
(All photos in this post are taken by Danesh Daryanani)
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