shoes...

Ever since this Monday, I've been fretting over which shoes to wear to Japan. I hate the fact that I have to wear trackshoes the entire trip - as there'll be many chances of walking and this climb at 5th station at Mount Fuji. However, I will look "orbit" if I'm shopping.

So when I saw this pair of Mary Jane from Nike and I had vouchers. I grab. YAY! I'd be looking cool man! yeah, me the vain pot.

so many changes

In a short 3 months span, the last company I was with had so many changes.

1) ex-RO went to HP
2) ex-bid partner went to Oracle
3) an AM became an SM (2 level jump)
4) an SM for commercial sector became a Deputy Director for Govt sector
5) ex-cube neighbour resign, digging info on where he's going from him.. will he go back to DSTA?
6) my ex-VP leaving next week, perhaps going to Acatel?

It must be such a freak place eh. But some of them worked for 5-6 years before moving to a MNC.

it's relag relag time la

I mean to say this last Wednesday.. phew, Nathan's exams are finally over. And double phew that he has only 4 papers to go through. This time, there were not many late nights as we prep some assessment work since last month. But I realised that his science needed a lot of help, he manage to scrap through a 30/50 for a practice paper and I thought it was quite poor. After going through the rounds with him (I had to buy one more set of assessment), it was apparent that P4 science is really not that simple and straightforward anymore. Water droplet, water vapour cannot be interchangeable. You'll need to know what prevents water pollution, why would birds freeze to death if there's an oil spill. goodness! It's only a P4 paper?!
Then, I learnt that I should be buying $39 science assessment book, not the typical $5-6 ones to teach pro-per-ly. don't expect definite high marks even if you know the concept, it's by chance..
I don't buy it but I know that it's just not that easy anymore. It'll be an anal task to teach Natasha when her time comes..

The upside is that this boy tries to recollect what was being taught and explained by us and manage to get an 88/100 for the paper.

The other happy news he gave me was that his Chinese improved. the effort for the sunday morning chinese shows, the chinese doremon VCDs and speaking in mandarin helps. At least Band 1 for this time, it was Band 2 whole of last year.

His English and Maths had always been on the consistent high 90s, so I am glad that it remained so. thank God for such a sensible boy who will tries his best.

After the last grumbling on the trip, things are so looking brighter. Basically, I gave up and asked God to take over. During the Malaysia workshop, things were still bleak because so many hotels rejected our bookings (too many people, too close the date). I verbalised to KK that God will take care of it and there is nothing to worry. It happened.
His brother secured a place in Tokyo for all of us.
We managed to get Osaka and Hakone's hotel at a bargain and more.
KK managed to get some points with BIL's sheraton card for a free night and we are staying at Sheraton Tokyo bay which provides shuttle to Disneyland!

Plus, our itinary looks terrific and it does not seem like we just want to touch and go from place to place. So excited for the trip.

Thank God for taking over. He will keep us safe for the trip and we will definitely enjoy ourselves. We will remember 27th May, the Global prayer date.

Grrrrouse and GRRRRowl

why??!???!??!!! why must hubs second sis tag along for this Japan trip which we have been trying to plan. Why must they be so testing????

2 months ago, all of the sudden, Hub's second sis decided to tag along. With a family of 6, I hardly think it is possible to plan Japan with them. Previously, the Malaysia trips (once at Malacca which they took us 9 hours to reach - YAH, ask me how they did that, and 2nd round at Kuantan, they spend 2 ENTIRE days FISHING.. bloody cukorrroooss.. they might as well fish at Pasir Ris park, Bedok port, whatever!!!)

When they decided to join, I told hubs that they WILL travel around OUR itinary. I pretty much left him to do the job. He did a poor negotiation. DId not book the hotels earlier and now we are pretty much stranded with EXPENSIVE hotel!!!! super duber pissed.

Now I am grousing. It better dunch turn into GROWLING!!

what a frenzy month

My dear hubby got himself hospitalised. There was this cyst that is growing on his chest. He turn down the first doc's offer to get the pus out before it became serious. So when it grew too unbearable, he checked himself into the hospital after he sent me to church the sunday before i am due to leave for work trip.
That afternoon, I had to do the groceries real quick, cook some soup for him and prep the kids for school for the week. All these would not have been possible if I had been frustrated or panic during the process. God was definitely with me.

Next day, (16th Apr/Mon)
I was really daze when my RO and I took off to the San franscisco. I forced myself to nap on the flight and halfway thru, i wonder if it was worth it since so much time was wasted travelling. Plus the checks were really stringent. It was worse on domestic flights, shall not indulge in elaborating.

After checking into the nice quiet town in Redwood city, we took off to San Fran city. And as I was not appropriate dressed for 11 degrees celcius, I ended up with a cold sore on my lip. Otherwise, it would have been a real treat that half day at the city. We ventured the shops at Old Navy, Victoria Secrets, took the tram to Fisherman's wharf... The sunset was a beauty.
The place we put up was somewhat like a dorm. Pleasantly peaceful and my room view was the little airport that holds some jet planes.


Marriot townsuite - 15 mins walk to work place in Redwood city


San Francisco city

Next night, Jake and family with Jeff/Wendy arranged dinner at "Yeah", a Malaysian restaurant near our office. Not fantastic food but i really love the company.


yeah!

The winds made the weather really cold although it's suppose to be spring. To talk work will be too boring, Fast forward...

Friday, I packed to get ready for Wendy to pick me up to Dinah's place for dinner. Dinah cooks.. wooo.. hoo.


Dinah the cook

one of the dish

Wendy and Denzel


the dinner

then Wendy prepared a nice bed with a nice little bear to accompany.. It was really nice and comfy.


isn't it lovely

It still felt surreal that nite when i fell asleep at the Lui's place, I think already at that point, I missed my hub and kids a great deal. All set for the next two days of fun.
WE shopped, eat, visited Golden Gate, Sausalito. We also had quite a bit of fun trying to take our own pics.. see this:









Jeff and Wendy also made a trip going up the famous San fran city slope and down the Lombard. I'll always remember that great memory they made.
Million thanks to Jake/Dinah and family and JEff and Wendy. I was genuinely happy to be able to spend time with these old buddies.. we've really come a long way :)