City issues typhoon alert as menace of Muifa looms by -- THIS year's first typhoon alert was issued this morning as Muifa was moving closer to Shanghai, packing winds of up to 162 kilometers per hour and threatening havoc in the next two days, weathermen said.
>>> I should stock up some food and water?
Friday, August 05, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
August
Flew back to Shanghai last week. Alone.
They come back here at the end of August.
Meanwhile, I hear the cicadas for the first time. From whence they come I don't know but they are making a huge din day in and day out, from morning to night. I imagine they are simply sizzling in the summer heat on wu-tong treetops and complaining as loudly as they can but no, apparently, it's a love song.
I have been reading and finished
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
Wallpaper Magazine August Issue
I am fifteen and I do not want to die by Christine Arnothy
... and about to start on
A very short history of the world by Geoffrey Blainey
I've also watched a couple of movies, caught a cold and recovered sans medication, went for a session of yoga, visited Tanzifang at Taikang Lu and started clearing out 11 months of living excesses from the apartment.
Another 4 weeks.
They come back here at the end of August.
Meanwhile, I hear the cicadas for the first time. From whence they come I don't know but they are making a huge din day in and day out, from morning to night. I imagine they are simply sizzling in the summer heat on wu-tong treetops and complaining as loudly as they can but no, apparently, it's a love song.
I have been reading and finished
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
Wallpaper Magazine August Issue
I am fifteen and I do not want to die by Christine Arnothy
... and about to start on
A very short history of the world by Geoffrey Blainey
I've also watched a couple of movies, caught a cold and recovered sans medication, went for a session of yoga, visited Tanzifang at Taikang Lu and started clearing out 11 months of living excesses from the apartment.
Another 4 weeks.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day 5 in the Singapore school
He's getting richer by the day!
I give him $2 daily.
He spent a total of 80cents the whole of last week.
I give him $2 daily.
He spent a total of 80cents the whole of last week.
2 years 1 months and 10 days
Just realized I've completed almost 11 months of my 3-year assignment. I can almost 'see' what's going to happen this time next year. How far can one plan? How far should one plan? I haven't yet planned us coming back to Singapore for sure.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Day 3
Day 2 ended with him saying that he is upset with everyone in his class. He said they would not listen to the teachers instructions and all that happened on day 2 was non-stop scolding by the teacher. He decided he had enough, hated it and that he did not want to continue going to school here in Singapore anymore. He continued to be upset the whole evening, protested when I told him to get into his uniform this morning and sulked along the journey to school.
Told him the story of the boy who went to school for 3 days and quit.
On the first day, the boy was taught how to write the Chinese character for the number One: 一
On the second day, he was taught how to write Two: 二
On the third day, he was taught Three: 三
And so the boy thought, that's simple isn't it and decided not to waste his time going to school anymore.
He never found out that the number Four is written like this: 四
Worse. Whenever he had to write 'One Hundred', he had to use a comb instead of a pen.
This made our boy laugh... but he still carried his bag reluctantly and deliberately dragged his feet through the school gates.
Day 3 ended with him showing us a thumb which was neither up nor down.
It was "ok", he said.
Told him the story of the boy who went to school for 3 days and quit.
On the first day, the boy was taught how to write the Chinese character for the number One: 一
On the second day, he was taught how to write Two: 二
On the third day, he was taught Three: 三
And so the boy thought, that's simple isn't it and decided not to waste his time going to school anymore.
He never found out that the number Four is written like this: 四
Worse. Whenever he had to write 'One Hundred', he had to use a comb instead of a pen.
This made our boy laugh... but he still carried his bag reluctantly and deliberately dragged his feet through the school gates.
Day 3 ended with him showing us a thumb which was neither up nor down.
It was "ok", he said.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
The next 2 weeks
One more week of school, then exams and then we are going home!
Except our home has been rented out...
He's finishing his first year in primary school in 2 weeks! WOW!!
He's not losing so much stationery nowadays, although occasionally he will do stupid things like sharpen his pencils both ends, break them in twos or saw them up with his ruler.
He had a few problems with his class bully earlier on in the year. Had food picked off the floor dumped into his soup, scratched his cheeks, hands, kicked, tripped etc. But last I hear, he says things are alright now, the bully doesn't bother him anymore.
So when yesterday he came back with a scratch on his cheek, I asked him how he got it. Refused to tell at first. I left it as that. But later, he did open up and told me he had a scuffle with his best friend's brother on the school bus. An older kid. Kid's brother took his 'shark' (he's into origami nowadays - it was a paper shark) so he grabbed that fellow's with his hands / fingernails but stressed that he didn't scratch him because there weren't any marks on the fellow's arm. Fellow retaliated by grabbing his face. Scuffle was broken up by bus auntie.
He's learnt how to add, subtract, count money, tell the time, recognize right angles and do 1-10 multiplications. Chinese speech and writing has improved dramatically and he's started reading chapter books by himself - Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
He's taller too. It became apparent after winter. His pants - the ones he had before the cold season, have all shrunk against those skinny legs of his.
He swims. Picked up front crawl, can swim 8 laps or so in that style without too much effort, and do a total of 16-20 laps during his hour-long lesson. He's also now learning backstroke.
Music education on the other hand, is a disaster. He punches the piano like he does the computer. Randomly and forever searching for the right keys. He also dropped out of the school choir and joined the paper-folding / origami class instead. Finally, he is still struggling to hold the violin properly and plays it like an executor with severe finger spasms.
He lost 2 baby tooth and has a couple more loose.
I see only fleeting glimpses of the baby nowadays and so when he ran back for a voluntary second hug and kiss before going to school this morning, something he never does nowadays, I was reminded. He's not yet seven but will be soon, all grown up.
Except our home has been rented out...
He's finishing his first year in primary school in 2 weeks! WOW!!
He's not losing so much stationery nowadays, although occasionally he will do stupid things like sharpen his pencils both ends, break them in twos or saw them up with his ruler.
He had a few problems with his class bully earlier on in the year. Had food picked off the floor dumped into his soup, scratched his cheeks, hands, kicked, tripped etc. But last I hear, he says things are alright now, the bully doesn't bother him anymore.
So when yesterday he came back with a scratch on his cheek, I asked him how he got it. Refused to tell at first. I left it as that. But later, he did open up and told me he had a scuffle with his best friend's brother on the school bus. An older kid. Kid's brother took his 'shark' (he's into origami nowadays - it was a paper shark) so he grabbed that fellow's with his hands / fingernails but stressed that he didn't scratch him because there weren't any marks on the fellow's arm. Fellow retaliated by grabbing his face. Scuffle was broken up by bus auntie.
He's learnt how to add, subtract, count money, tell the time, recognize right angles and do 1-10 multiplications. Chinese speech and writing has improved dramatically and he's started reading chapter books by himself - Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
He's taller too. It became apparent after winter. His pants - the ones he had before the cold season, have all shrunk against those skinny legs of his.
He swims. Picked up front crawl, can swim 8 laps or so in that style without too much effort, and do a total of 16-20 laps during his hour-long lesson. He's also now learning backstroke.
Music education on the other hand, is a disaster. He punches the piano like he does the computer. Randomly and forever searching for the right keys. He also dropped out of the school choir and joined the paper-folding / origami class instead. Finally, he is still struggling to hold the violin properly and plays it like an executor with severe finger spasms.
He lost 2 baby tooth and has a couple more loose.
I see only fleeting glimpses of the baby nowadays and so when he ran back for a voluntary second hug and kiss before going to school this morning, something he never does nowadays, I was reminded. He's not yet seven but will be soon, all grown up.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Attention span of a chicken.
I have no idea what a chicken's attention span is but I don't think there's a chicken in this world which would forget to swallow the corn that it has in its mouth. I do know however, of a boy who would write a chinese character halfway, start talking and forget that he has not yet finished writing it.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Children's Day
It's Children's Day today in China.
His school held a Charity Bazaar ( flea market + food fair).
A couple of days ago, he asked me how much I would give him... I said RMB20. He asked for more. RMB35 was the number we eventually agreed on.
On Monday, he brought a note home from school. Each food coupon was RMB5 and could be pre-purchased. So I gave him RMB20 for 4 tickets.
This morning, we argued over how much money he could bring to school. I thought I'd give him RMB15 ( 35 - 20 = 15!) but he said it was not enough and wanted RMB100. "That's 50 Da Niang veggie buns!", I exclaimed. Finally, we agreed to settle for RMB50.
Putting RMB20 in his right pocket and RMB30 in his left pocket, I told him that he could spend the RMB30 and urged him to save the RMB 20. As an incentive, if he brought back the RMB20, I'd double it - money he could spend next time.
He asked me to go to his school. I did.
Oh what fun! I observe the boy examining a bow & arrow game set at his class booth. Then he put it down and went away. Came back later with a small Optimus Prime (RMB1) and Mitsubishi toy truck (RMB1), spiderman stickers and some origami paper. I left him to himself and got myself 3 food coupons and exchanged them for chocolate ice-cream, corn on the cob and prawn crackers. He found me and asked if he could buy the bow & arrow set which was priced at RMB40. ( I think he asked only because he knew we had a spend 30 save 20 deal ) I told him to go bargain the price down but he said, "No" and ran off. Came back with a box of Japanese rice maki, a really delicious looking cupcake covered with white icing and a pack of cookies ( 3 coupons gone). He asked again if he could buy the bow & arrow set. I relented. He happily rushed off and came back balancing the loot on his head. Told him to go spend his last food coupon before the fair ended. He flew off and came back with our 2nd pack of prawn crackers. *Yum.
(Addendum: he bought incredibles stickers, not spiderman stickers, a spiderman marker that has a roller stamp on the top end, a bottle of water, gummy sweets in the shape of a pizza, look-alike/taste-alike Yakult!?!)
We ate and I laughed so hard at the kids' conversations. One boy started jeering a girl who had applied glittery eyeshadow on herself - she had bought it and was delighted that it was 'real'!!! Another one regretted her purchase and placed it on her classmate's desk, who wasn't very impressed with the 'gift' and wanted to throw it away. One kid was given too much - he said he had RMB130 in one wallet and yet more money in his 2nd wallet. He had already filled 3 bags with stuff and became visibly very exasperated and exhausted with still having money left over after his nth trip.
My boy told me he had fun. I would think so.
Happy Children's Day!
His school held a Charity Bazaar ( flea market + food fair).
A couple of days ago, he asked me how much I would give him... I said RMB20. He asked for more. RMB35 was the number we eventually agreed on.
On Monday, he brought a note home from school. Each food coupon was RMB5 and could be pre-purchased. So I gave him RMB20 for 4 tickets.
This morning, we argued over how much money he could bring to school. I thought I'd give him RMB15 ( 35 - 20 = 15!) but he said it was not enough and wanted RMB100. "That's 50 Da Niang veggie buns!", I exclaimed. Finally, we agreed to settle for RMB50.
Putting RMB20 in his right pocket and RMB30 in his left pocket, I told him that he could spend the RMB30 and urged him to save the RMB 20. As an incentive, if he brought back the RMB20, I'd double it - money he could spend next time.
He asked me to go to his school. I did.
Oh what fun! I observe the boy examining a bow & arrow game set at his class booth. Then he put it down and went away. Came back later with a small Optimus Prime (RMB1) and Mitsubishi toy truck (RMB1), spiderman stickers and some origami paper. I left him to himself and got myself 3 food coupons and exchanged them for chocolate ice-cream, corn on the cob and prawn crackers. He found me and asked if he could buy the bow & arrow set which was priced at RMB40. ( I think he asked only because he knew we had a spend 30 save 20 deal ) I told him to go bargain the price down but he said, "No" and ran off. Came back with a box of Japanese rice maki, a really delicious looking cupcake covered with white icing and a pack of cookies ( 3 coupons gone). He asked again if he could buy the bow & arrow set. I relented. He happily rushed off and came back balancing the loot on his head. Told him to go spend his last food coupon before the fair ended. He flew off and came back with our 2nd pack of prawn crackers. *Yum.
(Addendum: he bought incredibles stickers, not spiderman stickers, a spiderman marker that has a roller stamp on the top end, a bottle of water, gummy sweets in the shape of a pizza, look-alike/taste-alike Yakult!?!)
We ate and I laughed so hard at the kids' conversations. One boy started jeering a girl who had applied glittery eyeshadow on herself - she had bought it and was delighted that it was 'real'!!! Another one regretted her purchase and placed it on her classmate's desk, who wasn't very impressed with the 'gift' and wanted to throw it away. One kid was given too much - he said he had RMB130 in one wallet and yet more money in his 2nd wallet. He had already filled 3 bags with stuff and became visibly very exasperated and exhausted with still having money left over after his nth trip.
My boy told me he had fun. I would think so.
Happy Children's Day!
Monday, May 30, 2011
He broke it.
It was on the floor and he fell on it.
The neck broke.
He broke the violin.
He broke a Paganini violin.
He broke a violin from the 19th century.
I told him to remember that his mother did not kill him when he broke the violin.
The neck broke.
He broke the violin.
He broke a Paganini violin.
He broke a violin from the 19th century.
I told him to remember that his mother did not kill him when he broke the violin.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Project
No frills. I would have painted it, added details and made a mess of the house in the process. Him? He stuck to his plan. So long as the stuff stuck together, it was project completed. I even had to persuade him to add some feathers to the top of the robot's head. To him, anything outside of planned was out of scope. Had to bite my own fingers and lips to stop 'helping'. Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
House of cards
Some days I get the odd feeling that this is all a joke. That we all stand on a house made of cards. Only most days, we don't know that we are. Until a wind strong and sudden enough slams itself against it and you fall, along with everything else that you've gathered around you on this house of cards.
I brought the boy for a consultative session with a new violin teacher last night. I needed another opinion. As it turns out, he had aplenty. We spent more than an hour and a half with him, out of which he spent less than 5 minutes listening to the boy play a couple of pieces from his ABRSM Grade 2 book. When we walked down the stairs, all 5 flights of them because the studio was in an old apartment block (with a lift that only operates 4 hours a day between 3:30pm and 7:30pm) in the French concession area, cards flew from beneath my feet.
I brought the boy for a consultative session with a new violin teacher last night. I needed another opinion. As it turns out, he had aplenty. We spent more than an hour and a half with him, out of which he spent less than 5 minutes listening to the boy play a couple of pieces from his ABRSM Grade 2 book. When we walked down the stairs, all 5 flights of them because the studio was in an old apartment block (with a lift that only operates 4 hours a day between 3:30pm and 7:30pm) in the French concession area, cards flew from beneath my feet.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Violin
Me confused.
His SG teacher was preparing him for a Grade 2 ABRSM exam. Had we had stayed in SG, he would have taken that exam in March this year.
Over here, his SH teacher was determined to correct his basics. This went on for a good 6 months. I was just about thinking it was going nowhere when she announced that he is now stable enough for them to start on the SH conservatory of music of graded syllables. But, we soon found out that those books were out of stock. Syllables were being changed and they will not be restocking them.
So between March and May, she taught him almost all the pieces in the ABRSM Grade 2 book instead and urged me to buy the Grade 3 books for him. Told me the pieces in Grade 2 were too easy and that we should progress him to Grade 3 instead. I finally bought those books on Saturday.
Chatted with his SG teacher on the phone. Told her the boy will be back in SG for 2 months and asked if he could take the Grade 2 exams in August. Was told it was too late to register. Registrations closed in March.
Felt a bit shaken... so did some research. Quickly found out registrations for ABRSM exams in SH begins June 13th. Relief.
On Sunday, armed with newly purchased Grade 3 ABRSM books - and oh! the SH book with new syllables was hot out of the oven too so I grabbed that too - we went for his lesson.
I showed her the books and told her that out of the 3 pieces of music that he needs to prepare, he has learnt 2 of them before. Those were in his Suzuki Book 1 and Book 2. My 'strategy' was for him to start learning the '3rd piece' first and then we can work backwards if we have time. Also explained to her that he needs to learn and memorize all the scales & arpeggios as those need to be played from memory. She took a look at the materials and then told me that he may not be ready for it.
........ ?!?.........
She had done some research. She had a student who had taken the ABRSM exam and failed. ( this student had taken lessons from somebody else outside and had gone for the exam without her knowledge) Same student had done very well in the SH conservatory of music exams. Then she asked it there was a 'sight-reading' section? I said yes and she told me what I knew, that the music score is given on the spot. Repeatedly told me it is not something that can be prepared. Arh, so that was what she was worried about. He still cannot read his scores. Ok, I agree he cannot read his scores but told her I can help him there. Also told her that there is an 'aural' section. Could tell she did not really understand me. >>> Tell me, what's the Chinese equivalent for the word "aural"???
Actually, I'm not too worried about the 'sight-reading'. I remember I could never get it right either in any of the piano exams I've taken. Plus I've received a merit even failing this section. Ok, never mind if she can't prepare him for the 'aural' section. I am not a trained music teacher... but I should be able to guide him here and give him plenty of practice.
So I asked, what about the SH exams now that we have the book? Which grade can he take? And then I found out from her that these exams also happen in October. It only happens once a year! Grade 2 may be too challenging for him to prepare in such a short time. Grade 1 should be ok.
By this time, the bored boy was already muttering... I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3. I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3, I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3. I want to take Grade 1.............
Then she looks at me.
Me confused.
She shrugs. (15 minutes of the 45 minute lesson have now gone by) Tells me she does not know the ABRSM syllables well enough, asks me to ask his teacher in SG about the music pieces and decided to teach him a scale of the Grade 3 book instead.
Lesson over.
Later, I told the big one. He suggests, "Do both?"
Me grumbles at his stupid suggestion. "He's here for the next 6 weeks, then he goes back to SG for 2 months, then he comes back to SH in September. 10 weeks (6 weeks + Sept) is not enough time for him to prepare for the SH exams. 2 months in SG is not enough time to prepare for ABRSM. SG teacher cannot prepare him for SH exams.
He says, "Ok, then you see how lar."
!!?!???!?
But now I do see light. Me not confused anymore. There's only one choice really.
His SG teacher was preparing him for a Grade 2 ABRSM exam. Had we had stayed in SG, he would have taken that exam in March this year.
Over here, his SH teacher was determined to correct his basics. This went on for a good 6 months. I was just about thinking it was going nowhere when she announced that he is now stable enough for them to start on the SH conservatory of music of graded syllables. But, we soon found out that those books were out of stock. Syllables were being changed and they will not be restocking them.
So between March and May, she taught him almost all the pieces in the ABRSM Grade 2 book instead and urged me to buy the Grade 3 books for him. Told me the pieces in Grade 2 were too easy and that we should progress him to Grade 3 instead. I finally bought those books on Saturday.
Chatted with his SG teacher on the phone. Told her the boy will be back in SG for 2 months and asked if he could take the Grade 2 exams in August. Was told it was too late to register. Registrations closed in March.
Felt a bit shaken... so did some research. Quickly found out registrations for ABRSM exams in SH begins June 13th. Relief.
On Sunday, armed with newly purchased Grade 3 ABRSM books - and oh! the SH book with new syllables was hot out of the oven too so I grabbed that too - we went for his lesson.
I showed her the books and told her that out of the 3 pieces of music that he needs to prepare, he has learnt 2 of them before. Those were in his Suzuki Book 1 and Book 2. My 'strategy' was for him to start learning the '3rd piece' first and then we can work backwards if we have time. Also explained to her that he needs to learn and memorize all the scales & arpeggios as those need to be played from memory. She took a look at the materials and then told me that he may not be ready for it.
........ ?!?.........
She had done some research. She had a student who had taken the ABRSM exam and failed. ( this student had taken lessons from somebody else outside and had gone for the exam without her knowledge) Same student had done very well in the SH conservatory of music exams. Then she asked it there was a 'sight-reading' section? I said yes and she told me what I knew, that the music score is given on the spot. Repeatedly told me it is not something that can be prepared. Arh, so that was what she was worried about. He still cannot read his scores. Ok, I agree he cannot read his scores but told her I can help him there. Also told her that there is an 'aural' section. Could tell she did not really understand me. >>> Tell me, what's the Chinese equivalent for the word "aural"???
Actually, I'm not too worried about the 'sight-reading'. I remember I could never get it right either in any of the piano exams I've taken. Plus I've received a merit even failing this section. Ok, never mind if she can't prepare him for the 'aural' section. I am not a trained music teacher... but I should be able to guide him here and give him plenty of practice.
So I asked, what about the SH exams now that we have the book? Which grade can he take? And then I found out from her that these exams also happen in October. It only happens once a year! Grade 2 may be too challenging for him to prepare in such a short time. Grade 1 should be ok.
By this time, the bored boy was already muttering... I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3. I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3, I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3. I want to take Grade 1.............
Then she looks at me.
Me confused.
She shrugs. (15 minutes of the 45 minute lesson have now gone by) Tells me she does not know the ABRSM syllables well enough, asks me to ask his teacher in SG about the music pieces and decided to teach him a scale of the Grade 3 book instead.
Lesson over.
Later, I told the big one. He suggests, "Do both?"
Me grumbles at his stupid suggestion. "He's here for the next 6 weeks, then he goes back to SG for 2 months, then he comes back to SH in September. 10 weeks (6 weeks + Sept) is not enough time for him to prepare for the SH exams. 2 months in SG is not enough time to prepare for ABRSM. SG teacher cannot prepare him for SH exams.
He says, "Ok, then you see how lar."
!!?!???!?
But now I do see light. Me not confused anymore. There's only one choice really.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Inflation
When we first settled in at our new place in Shanghai, a rou bao (meat bun) from DaNiang round the corner costs RMB1.50. The price went up to RMB2 after Chinese New Year. Now, it costs RMB2.50. Price went up 67%.
Bus fare 8 months ago was RMB1. Now, it's RMB2. Double.
And I found out today, that the pork floss bun from BreadTalk went up by RMB1. Up 17%.
I'm not too concerned (yet) because I don't spend a huge chunk of my salary on food and am really fortunate to not have to think about the 'cost of meal' when deciding what and where I want to eat. Plus, it's still a better deal because I don't think we can find a 50cents bao in Singapore anymore right? The cheapest bao I recall is the vege bao, which was my fav snack, which costs 45cents at the science fac canteen in NUS...eh, about .... gosh... many donkey years ago. 40 cents won't get us anywhere on public transport... and at $1.40, that pork floss bun is still cheaper than the same one at home.
But it was a case it point when my mom urged me to save more because the value of the Chinese Yuan will double in 10 years. I told her about the buns and how much that money will actually be worth in 10 years time. It'll keep her off my account for a while...
Meanwhile... Pizza anybody?
Bus fare 8 months ago was RMB1. Now, it's RMB2. Double.
And I found out today, that the pork floss bun from BreadTalk went up by RMB1. Up 17%.
I'm not too concerned (yet) because I don't spend a huge chunk of my salary on food and am really fortunate to not have to think about the 'cost of meal' when deciding what and where I want to eat. Plus, it's still a better deal because I don't think we can find a 50cents bao in Singapore anymore right? The cheapest bao I recall is the vege bao, which was my fav snack, which costs 45cents at the science fac canteen in NUS...eh, about .... gosh... many donkey years ago. 40 cents won't get us anywhere on public transport... and at $1.40, that pork floss bun is still cheaper than the same one at home.
But it was a case it point when my mom urged me to save more because the value of the Chinese Yuan will double in 10 years. I told her about the buns and how much that money will actually be worth in 10 years time. It'll keep her off my account for a while...
Meanwhile... Pizza anybody?
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Contented.
It's nice.
Am 36.
No aches
No pain,
No discomfort,
No worries,
No troubles,
No cares.
Am 36.
Finally contented.
Am 36.
No aches
No pain,
No discomfort,
No worries,
No troubles,
No cares.
Am 36.
Finally contented.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Leasted through.
I got a brain-hand disconnect!
Yesterday, I wrote: This is through.
Today, I wrote: These 2 were leasted as .....
I meant
This is true.
These 2 were listed as....
I realise it's wrong only when I see it. It's all very strange....
Yesterday, I wrote: This is through.
Today, I wrote: These 2 were leasted as .....
I meant
This is true.
These 2 were listed as....
I realise it's wrong only when I see it. It's all very strange....
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Spring is here!
人民广场 Ren Min Guang Chang ( People's Park)
The rides were closed for a period during Winter. This is one of the boy's favourite place. They have rides which he can and does go on by himself - the Dragon roller coaster, the pirate ship (viking) and the bumper car. Each ride costs between RMB5-10 (S$1-2). On Sunday, for RMB50/S$10, we got him 6 tickets. He was over the moon happy.
梧桐树 Wu Tong Shu ( Phoenix Tree / Chinese Parasol)
They line the streets where we live, where his school is and where I work. Their leaves look like maple tree leaves and can grow quite big. Around 20cm or more in length / 25cm in width. About a week ago, leave buds started to sprout and now tiny baby leaves are growing... and very quickly too they are filling up the not too long ago bare trees. I find it amazing to witness these changes. In about a week, they'll start to flower and release pollen into the air. My colleagues tell me our street will soon be covered with a layer of cotton-like fluff. We'd see.
Music@home
Am excited. Bought a digital piano. After months of dragging my feet and 2 failed attempts at buying a 2nd hand piano piano, we will finally have something to play with. Better still, it wouldn't cost me usd2K to crate and ship it back home when the time comes. The reason why we left our piano in Singapore.
The rides were closed for a period during Winter. This is one of the boy's favourite place. They have rides which he can and does go on by himself - the Dragon roller coaster, the pirate ship (viking) and the bumper car. Each ride costs between RMB5-10 (S$1-2). On Sunday, for RMB50/S$10, we got him 6 tickets. He was over the moon happy.
梧桐树 Wu Tong Shu ( Phoenix Tree / Chinese Parasol)
They line the streets where we live, where his school is and where I work. Their leaves look like maple tree leaves and can grow quite big. Around 20cm or more in length / 25cm in width. About a week ago, leave buds started to sprout and now tiny baby leaves are growing... and very quickly too they are filling up the not too long ago bare trees. I find it amazing to witness these changes. In about a week, they'll start to flower and release pollen into the air. My colleagues tell me our street will soon be covered with a layer of cotton-like fluff. We'd see.
Music@home
Saturday, April 02, 2011
April Fools' Day
Played a trick on my colleagues yesterday....
(Official company email banner)
Dear Colleagues,
We are proud to unveil our new logo for MIPS. This new and contemporary logo more accurately reflects the dynamic and professional team at MIPS .
This logo will be launched officially on 1st May. Our entire line of collateral materials will be revised to include this logo. To make the shift effective, please make sure that this logo is included in all presentation and marketing materials from 1st May onwards and that the new logo is properly used in terms of color, placement and other graphic standards.
To view and download the logo guidelines and associated files, please click HERE
>>> And if they did click through, they get to see this:
The boy was fooled in school too. He told me his teacher gave them a spelling test. After sheets of paper were distributed to the entire class, the teacher walked up to one of them and tore the paper up.... and that they too started tearing their own papers. He then told me he didn't get to fool anybody and I told him he had to wait till next year. Come to think about it, he will have to wait two years... next year's April Fools' Day falls on a Sunday.
(Official company email banner)
Dear Colleagues,
We are proud to unveil our new logo for MIPS. This new and contemporary logo more accurately reflects the dynamic and professional team at MIPS .
This logo will be launched officially on 1st May. Our entire line of collateral materials will be revised to include this logo. To make the shift effective, please make sure that this logo is included in all presentation and marketing materials from 1st May onwards and that the new logo is properly used in terms of color, placement and other graphic standards.
To view and download the logo guidelines and associated files, please click HERE
>>> And if they did click through, they get to see this:
- My boss basically went, "What the hell! ............"
- Another colleague asked if she is to send her materials through to my team for updating.... so I told her, "No, I am quitting. Please DIY."
- A couple more asked why I am "so free" and "jia pah eng ah" .....
The boy was fooled in school too. He told me his teacher gave them a spelling test. After sheets of paper were distributed to the entire class, the teacher walked up to one of them and tore the paper up.... and that they too started tearing their own papers. He then told me he didn't get to fool anybody and I told him he had to wait till next year. Come to think about it, he will have to wait two years... next year's April Fools' Day falls on a Sunday.
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