It's not all that hard...

As I look upon Christmas with a different perspective and with different expectations, somehow, it's just another evening on 24th and another day on 25th.

Although so many people is trying to give, it was disheartening to see people fretting over the last minute gift exchange, to see people shouting over the handphones at their family to meet at a certain place after the hectic shopping, to see people freak out over the amount to spend on whatever meaningful presents they try to get, to see people think about how to please people around them and lost the real sense of this day, to see people fight because their loved ones did not get THAT gift, to see people get drunk to "celebrate" the birth of Christ and regret what they might have done the night before, to see people still freezing in the winter cold in some countries, to see people overeat and make merry but have no idea at all of why...

So much for feeling this way. I just need to get it off my chest.

However, it was so great to feel contented. Just that. Contented.

The only shopping I did was just to pick up the turkey for the family christmas gathering.
After a simple dinner on Christmas eve, we went to church and consider thank God for giving us Jesus who on this day (supposingly) became man. So that we can become like Him.

Christmas reviews

I was browsing through some of the pictures archived in my hard disk. And it's interesting how Christmas marked the end and beginning of each year - instead of the actually New Year. Perhaps because it's my birthday month as well :)
As I reviewed the years, it's amazing how each year can be so different. It's this joyous season that we truly want to remember what is the real gift.

04: we have our new home ready thus welcomed the Agape choir to carol at our place. It was lovely.

05 : We enjoyed white pre-christmas in Korea - Snow experience. Gifts for friends, kids were mostly from Korea. we enjoyed food at a Messianic restaurant with the BS people.

06: I had a chance to taste what "tai-tai" lifestyle for the whole month. I had more time to do personalised gifts. Also did alot of shopping, outing with the kids besides doing a couple trip to take in the cold cold weather in Macau, went to a relative's 15million house to play for the entire day.

07: Our couple trip was in NY. We chiong the Midnight madness thanksgiving sale thus gifts were from the US trip. BS christmas gathering was bowling and eat at CSC. However, on Christmas day itself, had a big fight with hubby - urgh, had a really poor day itself.

This year...
Change to a new work place thus no chance to plan for an overseas trip proper. We've decided that the kids will not get any gifts this year but we are secretly buying gifts for the adults. Hubby and I also did more volunteering work.
- volunteered at SingTel for their joint christmas gathering with MYMCA for the older folks. It was quite enriching and it's very easy to do. Prepare deco and layout, performed for each other, had a session of lunch and interacted.
- volunteered to send gifts to prisons ministry people. We were apprehensive at first but hubby really was helpful in follow up and reaching out. I am so proud of him.
Well, we will see what happens this year - next week!

gearing up for the weekend

Many people would be on leave since it's a long weekend - minus the 43K++ people who will run for StanChart marathon.
I sure have my fair share of tri-a-thalon.
Sat: BBQ with BS group for Natasha's birthday
Sun: morning run, dinner gathering for family (14 adults, 10 kids) - Natasha's BD.

Thank God she is okay to NOT have another PARTY for her school and ballet friends - might'as well kill moi.

AND - i've not been training for the run. Hope to just complete the run and return the chip. I am kinda not looking forward - cos I don't have anyone to run with + so much rain.

...
...
...
...
...

yeah, i'm just giving excuse for being lazy.

I am planning - with abit of reluctance the BBQ and dinner menu:
BBQ (Sat) -
. satay
. butter and salt zucchini
. aparagus wrap with bacon
. portabello mushroom with cheese
. frozen apple margarita
. choc cheese cake (Nigella's)

Dinner (Sun) -
Appetizer - Adults
.Cold TouFu with peanut sauce + century egg.
.Green mango salad

Mains – Adults (14)
.Prawn noodle, soup
.Steam rice with Nonya Chicken curry (from curry recipe)
.Short bean with Almond slice
.Finger food: Fried Japanese Croquettes, lemon grass sticks (28)

Desert
.Frozen margarita
.Birthday cake

Soup - Kids
.Clam chowder
.Garlic bread

Mains – kids
.Chicken and mushroom pie (recipe from book)
.Short bean with Almond slice
.Finger food: Fried Japanese Croquettes, grilled corn with butter

Desert
.Frozen peach jelly
.Birthday cake

I'd be marketing and storming this all up... except help from maid on Sun. Certainly hope everything will turn out well.

har har...

Natasha says she has a joke to share.

There is a girl who tells everyone that her mother is good at swimming.
There is another girl (who thinks that girl before is boasting) says her mother's good at raising, raising the family.

Me thinks: woah.. Natasha at P2 can come up with - raising the family.

Nathan says, breaking my thoughts : Mommy, you are good at racing (I think raising = proud of myself). Race us to wake up, race us to eat our breakfast, race us to go to school, race us to finish our homework...

har har.. funniest joke so far.

Holiday and simple fun

This year's holiday has no big bang, it's road trip to Malaysia again. To Sunway Lagoon and Malacca. It was such a fun trip despite it's simplicity.

The rides at amusement park were so good - we did the colorado splash, 360 degree viking ride, roller coaster, the wave pool, the tunnel slides, the "F1" slide. Hubby and I were like on honeymoon since the kids had their own friends to get around with. With occasional times to play foster parents to our friend's 3 yo and 1 yo.

Ice skating was the ultimate - bring your gears (gloves and socks) and pay RM13 to have the whole day at the skating ring! We got to witness some nice filming of ice-hockey game - totally cool. I think Natasha has some good chance to get on to get good skating skills much faster than her brother.

Food wise, we finally tasted the REAL authentic Ampang Yong Tau Fu, the kids tasted and saw chicken rice balls whilst we enjoyed the assam fish head. Sedap!

When we came home, a gecko also wanted a free ride to sg.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We finally house a nice cage at abt S$20 and adopted some 2 weekold hammies. Welcome babies..

Seasons change, city change

Some back dated and random Oct posts...

We didn't put any effort to do anything for Nathan's birthday which fell promptly in between final school examinations. On the actual day, I thought of getting him a small cake so that we will just do a quick tiny birthday celebration. And the dad actually bought the large cake from NYDC that costs $70 ... and we ate till we bloat like puffer fish.

This boy was jovial about having such a simple fare, he commented that he would have a 'normal' birthday next year since PSLE is early Oct. I wonder what he wished for before blowing out the candles - for good results? haha.

I like this family picture taken :D

On the last day of their exams, we couldn't wait to treat ourselves a nice dinner. All of stamina must have been lost through the studying so by 10pm, we were super beat and wished we were home. So after a 10mins stroll at the marina bay area, we headed home.

The next day, I saw news on the urban reservoir's opening. Fwah, with these development building around us, the sg of the 80s will soon fast disappear.

Star of wonder, star of night, star of royal beauty bright... what is the next few big changes?

God's grace

Hubby is safe for the time being. The list of those who took the package and ask to leave is done.
Out of his previous team of 5, he's the only one left. He will know the new structure in the next few days.
Thank God and I pray that His grace continues ...

Today...

Hubby went back to work today after his 2 weeks compliance leave. His boss took the package and her last day was yesterday - no handover, no goodbye. His good friend will be having his last day today. A few he talked worked closely with is already gone. Boy, what a horrendous feeling to see things collasping around you.

The exercise will carry out till this friday. He may or may not be on the list. We can only trust God for his coverage. In times like this, we can only be as steadfast in our faith and positive looking as we can be.

~~~~~~~~~

On a lighter note, he shared with me what transpired between his girl and him when he fetched her to school for her Guzheng class yesterday. Apparently, my girl doesn't aspire to be like me when it comes to spending. In her words - if the thing mommy fancy is good and cheap, she'd buy. But it's very good and nice but expensive, she won't even consider.

This came up as they spoke about shopping money and she remembered shopping with me recently and I tried a dress which she commented that it was very pretty. The tag was $80 so I put it back to the rack but bought a purple tulip skirt for $28 instead. She could not comprehend why I didn't buy the pretty dress. I told her that it was not really value for money since the price tag I had in mind for that dress is $50-60, by that I factored the skirt I bought is 28 and for a dress that covers my top and bottom should be around the same too. She still didn't quite get it so I let it be.
Her daddy asks if she would get that dress if she were me and she says : if you allow me, yes.
She either loved that dress I don that price should not be the determining factor or she does not really understand value for money concept.

I am glad that my kids are well provided for, so money is not a consequence.

the wonderful ...

Every year, he will need to go on compliance 2 weeks leave. Last year, it was used on the USA's trip with me.
This year, since I'm in a new job (=no chance to take leave), he took this time to take care of the miscellenous stuff around the house.

He had:

- repaired the ailing shoe rack.
- called the plumber to get our bathroom's choke cleared.
- bought the children's 2009 school books and wrapped them.
- did some chinese lesson for Nathan.
- did interesting lunch for kids.
- brought the kids to the library.
- set up Christmas tree.
- cleared the storeroom while looking for my recycled bags my ex-maid hid.
- clear his own mails (massive)
- fetch me to and fro work - breakfast if possible.
- bought the kids out to swim.
- helped another bible study friend facilitate one of the lesson.

This is despite the many news about his company's share is dropping like crazy and talk of retrenchment is thick in the air.

I love this man.

Pre-Exam fun

We made a trip to the the Jurong Bird Park before exams came.. and went.

The adventure started even before we reached the park, we almost entered Jurong Island. duh.. we enjoyed ourselves despite the scale of the place. I think we don't mind going again :)

Before the JBP adventure. We supported Nathan's piano teacher who was part of the NAFA orchestra team at the Botanics. So the kids poses with the statue which was presented by the overseas delegates.

Amazing love

I've been too busy. With things to do, to be done and plan to do. But I want to thank God the many things he's blessing and had blessed.

A couple of months ago, J and J asked for prayers for their little nephew, Jovan. He's a 4 year-old with liver cancer, 4th stage. That is about the most terminating stage. I cringe when I listen on - on his treatment and hospital stay.
Now, this is not the first time I hear sickness that needed prayer, needed God's merciful intervention. In the past, I've always prayed for hope, hope that the sickness will be healed and that it's His will be done and that people around the sick will know about Him.

I've underestimated God's divine grace and power.




Seriously. I lack pure faith.



One day, a week after praying for Jovan. I was praying silently during my train ride home. I felt a gut of passion crept up my throat like a cry lump. Then, I told God that I am tired of seeing prayers to get well "unhear". I want to see His work be done. I wanted to press ahead in my relationship with Him and thus, I want to see Jovan healed.

I knew that healing had taken place when I stepped out of that train that day. somehow.

Last Saturday, during our bible study gathering. J shared that Jovan's condition has improved tremendously and he is checking out of the hospital! Praise God! Amazing God, Amazing love, Amazing grace.

The kids has done fairly well for their school exams.
Their results:
Nathan at P5: English - 87, Chinese - 77, Math - 95, Science - 79 (avg 85)
Natasha at P2: English - 92, Chinese - 99, Math - 99 (avg 97)

I usually dislike watching 心晴大动员, for the fact that I want to avoid seeing hypocrites. But last night's episode moved me. It demonstrated amazing love from the family, it shows how much love we have for our fellow human kind. It taught me yet another lesson on God's Amazing mercy each and everyday on my family and I.

I am bursting to sing this chorus:

Amazing love, how can it be
that You my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
And it's my joy to honour You
In all I do, I honour You

Denial, lacking of.. and lesser

After mugging the entire afternoon for the exams that is around the corner. I decided we should stretch ourselves at the nearby park at 6pm. It was a good thing that it poured earlier and we had some great fresh air whilst we take our evening exercise. The kids weren't too enthuse about it, they are the "I-rather-sit-on-couch-and-move-my finger-than-go-out" type of kids. I didn't create them that way, I think hubby's genes has something to do with it.
However the idea that dinner at superdog gave them some good spurge of energy. AND the motivation that they can order whatever they want at the restaurant in exchange that they keep up with us during the brisk walk seemed to work well.
At the restaurant, it dawned on me that the few visits we came, they are always in some ways or other, denied of their want. Being typical value for money person, I'd always go for the meals that gave more - like their buddies meal or their deluxe - which has either no dog or 1 dog. And they share. They'd never enjoy one ripper all by themselves. I realised then that value meal or without, it's actually about S$5 more if they were to get to order the ripper all by themselves! It didn't make a lot of "cents" to me why I would always deny them all these while. But I could see some good sense when I saw that it could push the kids to do things they usually feel less oblige.

I was told, in many ways, when I made my kids do housechores (harder as they grow older), come home by themselves at age 9, carry their own bag pack on overseas trips, no PS or DS or computer game or gameboy for the entire school term, no TV on school weekdays, set high expectations on their results ... that I'm a pushy and "jik ark" (hokkien) mom.
There are only few occasions where I allow flexiblity and my kids learn how to enjoy themselves in other ways when a break is needed. The rule of thumb when I set all these restrictions is - not to drive them crazy and take a lot of effort and time to communicate. And I don't punish if my expectations are not met but to let them know where they've gone wrong and try again - harder this time.
With that, I could force out from them their natural self instinct when they react to these restrictions and teach moral values when it happens to go the wrong direction. I have to say, it is very hard sometimes, especially when they act up when I am tired from work or just wanted rest. I am no perfect mom and don't strive really hard to be one. I am just doing what I think is best to mould a better character.

I hope that they learn that things don't fall on their lap on its own - you've got to earn it.
I hope that they think through priorities.
I hope that they are be able to overcome temptations on their own and practice it daily.
I hope that they learn how to take care of their own things and also for the family - starting from housechores.
I hope that they continue to feel that there are greater things out there in life and strive for them.

So far, I don't think they feel that they lack of anything, it's just that they have to work hard to get to the things that they friends get to enjoy easily. Although they know that we can well afford them.

random

So I am feeling a little melancholy today.
hen Natasha told me about a friend crying over a dog that was tortured and put to death at SPCA, it almost a hard lump in my throat. Especially when she said : so mommy, the teacher says that dogs have feelings too.

Me thinks: have I been neglecting the feelings of people around me these days?

....The b decides to pass a staff who was in PA work for our director - to do pricing. It didn't matter to them if she's suited for the job. I (just) had to coach her to fulfill the part of that headcount's work. 3 months later, the truth is out. She's not suited and my feedback plays a large part of her staying of leaving. Evil. I state truth and she's out of job. I omit any truth, our team suffers a headcount.

~~~~~~~~~~~

...Last night, in attempt to give WL her wedding blessings, I searched some of the pictures taken with her whilst we were closest those days.

I found WL and I's picture from 1992 - I was 18 and WL 17. The years went on.. jun 1993, sep 1993, dec, 1994 - at sentosa with Aggie, Jerome and Lawrence. 1995 where I prepare to leave for Australia, 1996 - WL, Dinah, Meiyan, Michelle was with me with KK to roam Tassie by car.

In 1997, I become mum to my dear Nathan. I had WL, Becky, Esther to cheer me onto motherhood.

along the years, we drifted apart. I never quite made it back to Faith A/g since I settled for a church nearby. But those days were my happiest, most carefree... most treasured years.

Thanks friends - for being friends... and this song stuck with me all these years.

Friends

When girls just wanna have fun...

Facebook is such an incredible social portal to use. A secondary friend organised a long awaited get together and we had so much fun that we decide to do this every year instead of every Olympics year! To think that I was a hesitant on turning up since I wasn't sure how it'd turn out to be. I wasn't exactly the most sociable or popular person in school and a closer sec friend and I IMed... to go, not to go.. to go, not to go... and we turned up fashionably late at 8.30 and 9 for dinner. And we were glad we went anyway!

18 years ago - when we were vibrant and young

yeah, one more to year and we'd be in the MID 30s. wow..

Not every one turned up and most of us came from various classes between Sec 1 to Sec 4. Some of us knew each other before streaming into commerce, science or Arts. Some of us even go way back in Primary school!

We met last Friday night, but it was as if time had no impact on how we were..

after our dinner

Kbox - singing songs that were evergreen.

we were serenading - That's what friends are for...

Cheers to many more reunions to come!

being Singaporean

I truly feel proud to be a Singaporean when I watched Singapore's flag raised during the Olympics last night.
Even though we knew it was a difficult match to win Gold, we cheered from home for the ladies when they played against China.
This tells me that dreams really do come true....

In sickness and in health

Being sick is no fun.
For the entire ND holidays, the kids and I had to stay put at home, hecking away with aching bones. TeeVee became our best mate.
Our temperature for the day (for those interested in buying toto): 39.8, 37.9, 38.2, 38.8, 37.5, 39.2
eh, not numbers that'd win that 8 million bucks.
Being sick is no fun.
The tongue put up a strike since there's just so much medicine that's killing it's buds. It's porridge, porridge and you guessed it... porridge for 2 days.
Any other food will just taste too salty.
Being sick is no fun.
The chi in the house is stale and stagnant. We couldn't pluck up any energy to play board game or mahjong. It's just sleep, teevee, sleep, teevee...
I see people jog pass and I think it's pure bliss to be able to run into that breeze.

I wanna be healthy and kicking and so determine to plan for that Europe trip.

The Run

The 10k shape run for me is true test of perseverance. This time, I put in slightly more effort to train and prepare for the run.


1) did at least once a week of at least 5km run
2) swam 10 laps every week
3) slept early before the run
4) drank chicken essence, a banana for carbo, a snack bar and drank a glass of water in the morning of the run
5) put on sun block

In comparison to that very unprepared SAAB 5k run a month ago, I felt more confident toward finishing the 10km.


However, it was not easy when I was in the midst doing it. Although, it had never occur to me to give up midway... there was a good deal of pain I felt :

- at about 2.5km, the area around my gastic tensed up.. I had to slow down to eased it.
- at 3km, my mental was drifting to walk .. to walk..
- at 3.5km, I relented and walked - it was brisk walk, run, walk, run, brisk walk, run.. for the next few km.
- at 4plus km, seeing some at 6km was a bit of a struggle.
- at 6plus km, I realised that there were much more people behind me.
- at 8km, my left knee hurts and I felt like I was limping. I was wearing knee guard only for the right knee and though I had a surge of inspiration to run all the way but couldn't.
-I did a dash at the last 100m and since I didn't set a goal to the timing, I thought 1 hour 15 mins was pretty poor.
- my hubby who was kind enough to support me at the finishing line.......
...... But poured comments like how come someone who was in tudung came in earlier than me - at 1 hour 6 mins.
*gah* could there be anything more comforting than that, huh, huh?!


Although, it was hard to swallow that comment, I felt it was somewhat true. But I didn't take that defeatedly. In fact, I was proud of myself - finishing the this maiden attempt of 10km and at a personal best time.

My pained look at the finishing line.

with Cheryl who did the fun 5k. check out her number

Vigin/Maiden attempts

I attempted a few firsts in a span of 2 weeks! Boy, I think these injections of excitement give healthy adrenaline to my bod and brain.

1. First attempt cooking Ramen

I suspect that my family (yes, children inclusive) love for Ramen starts from watching Japan hour. The travelogue is always full of wonderful soup base with noodles that has that amazing texture. When we visited Japan last year, we had our share of excellent Ramen with bad ones. Yes, bad ones exists. At least for me. If the noodles has that alkaline taste, which will also affect the soup, it's bad. The other ingredients will not matter anymore.

Then inspiration hits me when I saw a book on Hokkaido (left around by my sisIL since she's heading there this month). But instead of char siew ramen, I did prepared their all time fav - fried breaded pork chop with Hokkaido inspired Ramen.

.Runny egg with hard boil white - it's an art

.fresh sweet corn at the side

. soup base - pork bone, chicken bone, corn core and sea salt

.add a small slice of butter

Most of you know how to make pork chop. But for me, a perfect pork chop comes with these little tricks...

. set the breaded pork chop aside for 10 mins before frying

. the vegetable oil must be very hot

. since I use frozen pork slice, I will drip the pork dry before using.

2. I did a brave act on my own - met blogger Karen and did the DTKC...

There is always this urge to go out there to see that "blue, blue sky" instead of facing my "lemon tree" inside of me. However, I've been rather selfish - always tagging someone along. If not my sister, it'd be my family. Quite terrible, eh. It's just that I've always wanted my kids to be a bit more sociable.

Anyways, this time, it's gotta be just moi.... erm, I did try to chio my sis but it wasn't successful :P

I had imagined it to be awkward and lonely. But as it turns out, it was pretty alright. Karen was really nice (and pretty - needless to say) and it was a great event to witness.

Pretty and very slim KAren posing the DTKC at Indochine

Since I was with no one I really knew, I went off early and met Kingsley on the way at the exit. What a nice surprise.

3. I stormed up 3 supper dishes in one hour!

There are several recipes I kept from various people. To whip up the dishes will mean that my family will grow fat in no time. So, when the Wans couldn't open their home for BS, I volunteered to host the BS since they could jolly well be my tasters (aka GP).

Initial worries of needing to spend too long a time on preparing and cooking diminished. I spent only an hour! What a treat!

Nigella's lime cheesecake. 3 boxes of Philly cream cheese in here! I love this!

Mee suah kueh - with chinese mushroom, red pepper, carrot, mince pork, prawn, garlic and large onion

Brazillian chicken drums..

I managed to take the pics of the leftovers since I was zipping around for other errands after doing up the supper. Oh, I am still thinking of my next cheesecake project.

Nigella taught me that leftovers does not neccessarily mean that my food wasn't up to mark. Whenever she does her show, she will always go to fridge in the night and dig her leftovers. This is just one subtle message I learn from her cook show and for that she tops my list on learning how to bake and cook.

There are just so many things happening and so much work at work too. God is good all the time!

weekend, continue...

We woke up at 6.15am and got ready to set off for the SAAB duathlon. I run the 5K, they support. This race was against all odds. It's a relay - 5K run/20K cycle/2.5k run. I wanted to join the Saucony run instead but due to the pressure that this is a company sponsored (not main) so the marketing group is rallying to have the most numbers of participants. So I was the first leg, a guy (HT) was the cyclist, then a lady (A) colleague will do the last leg.

HT decided to pull out during registration, I think it's cos he feels he'd lose out as the rest of the members are girls.

So I told the organiser to see if there are any "loose" participants and if we can form a team, I will join. And they did.

On Sunday morning, I saw a message from the cyclist (R) injured his ankle from a minor car accident on Sat and is unable to join. The one who was suppose to do the 2.5k pulled out too cos there will be no cyclist to pass the baton to her.

I still went ahead. Just so to complete my own desire to get that run out of my system. It was tough, the runners are all darn pro!!! As I run, everyone seems to be passing by me and before 1k is done, I looked back and I was the LAST! whoa. It was demoralising. But I persevere... and came in 30mins and was the last 4th. Lesson learnt, definitely not to underestimate corporate runs and MUST practice.

coming in last 5.. ;P

then we roam around the area since it's still pretty early.

SAAB convert

Tiam Hock Keng temple?

Nostalgic breakfast at Chinatown

A totally different weekend

We broke aways from the norm this weekend and it was fulfilling.

Our usual children activities packed weekend started with a leisure Sat morning at my sister's place. Nathan and Tasha is at church camp the whole day.
We played with Isaac, exchange DVD dramas, update on things and watch Nigella's cooking.

Breakfast was in simple western style and a few nice laughs. Isaac (Z) Ong on my legs

We got home to rest, watch some LEGENDS episodes and napped. Then it's time to work on the pot bless I am suppose to bring over for FIL's birthday party.

Fried Sotong balls and my signature carbonara penne pasta (with Japanese sausage and pan fried salmon fillet pieces.

I changed and decided to take some nice pics. Nigella always does this before her party :) ok, okay, I took a few shots before reaching this one I like

then at the party.... the usual, there's mahjong, there's boredom, there's DVD watching... .... and camera, action, take.

My unmarried (read: alot of money to spend) sisters in law are into getting premium cakes. This time, they got it from The Patissier. It's really something the cake.

The hazelnut biscuit base made to the snap slightly between your lips, the cream is light yet still has that sweet, slightly sappy sour taste of passionfruit. The sponge is tightly wrapped vertically with that cream.. thumbs up.

Happy birthday to you.. and he's 69 still going strong!

(L-R) top: Si Hao, Nathan, Gong Gong, Por Por, Natasah, Si Hui (aka Mr Bean), Si Han.
(L-R) bottom: Jun Jie, Jing Heng, Jun Xiang, Si Hong
All nine of the grandchildren. The eldest 17 years old, youngest 8.

can you spot them when they are younger? The youngest in the latter pic is 2 years old - that a not long 6 years ago :)

update of sunday activity tomorrow...

For memories sake

I have to start doing this more often since I don't remember things that happen years ago. I've been reading some archives of some LJ friends and also mine.
- I found out that I am still not that huge on uploading pics - which often is the common draw for others to read your entries.
- I realised that my pet dog is 5yrs old already.
- that I went on more holidays than I remembered.

Anyways, the husband intentionally forgot our wedding anniversary day. He lost money on the stock market again and this time, *sigh*. But he tried to make it up but in his usual way...
the things he gets for me, he will get to enjoy too.

Action 1
He borrowed The Legend from his colleague and said it was a special favor for me. When I was not too overjoyed about it, it baffled him - until he watched it till past 2am - I slept at 12am, cannot tahan midnites nowadays. I pointed out the obvious, he denied.

Action 2
717 durian imported some "mao shan wang" and he knew these days, I am either mao shan wang or nothing. He got a shock when 2 of that buggers made him 80bucks poorer (the last time we ate it, I paid). So he insisted that it was for my sakes.
Although the whole family got it eat it, I am pretty okay and satisfied. Good things are meant to be shared with the loved ones anyway.

All I can feel now is that I have to give it to him for having the intentions to do it right.

Work woes...

I wish I had some other ways to keep up to the living standards in Sg.
Especially now when I am feeling all time low in my career. To put into analogy how I am feeling now...

It's so easy to have credit cards in Sg. As long as you earn 30K per annum, you are invited to the whole spread of cards from all sorts of bank - ABN Ambro, StanChart, DBS, UOB, AMEX, Citi, HSBC... each carries their merits so if they keep waiving the annual fee, I continue to oblige having them - all the cards I name will give me ways to get discounts, special deals, VIP invites etc. Some many years ago, I applied for a card name Manhattan. From the start, so far, I have only used it once and felt it was really pointless to carry it. They kept auto waiving my subscription but I felt that it was useless and one point, insisted that they terminate it. It has no value to me, just taking up space in my wallet. Come to think of it, my other StanChart card is never used before either... Back to the Manhattan card - I feel totally like the card now. I wonder if it's my depression mood acting up by blogging this down...

Like the card, I feel shiny and bright. Full of hope to be use for the purpose to be convenient. However, it's pale in comparison to other equally shiny cards because of the value of it. As much as the owner tries, there is no point.
I think my boss and the people I support make me feel that way.

I kept thinking of the next steps - should I continue to peservere in this path or should I find another job and perhaps (and hopefully) fit like a glove?

Is this a test of submission from God? I am so confuse and sad...

is that light at the end of the tunnel

The past couple of months had actually been the hardest. Last year, work though was challenging, it was manageable. In fact it was fun.

- My mum claims (yes claims) that she is very sick. She've seen at least a dozen of doctors and insists that none of them wants to tell her or pay attention to what problem she has. I learnt through siblings and herself that she is also turning to whatever religion there is to "save" her from her situation. So I officially proclaim her MENTAL.
Now, isn't that a nasty situation?
- Tasha, well has been rather an issue and that was in my previous blog
- Domestic helper. Not sure if it was her fault or is it my expectations. Or if we simply don't have the chemistry.
- 2 kids going for exams at the same time. And the going gets rougher as they progress.
- I was told to swop role and I wasn't prepared nor comfortable. I don't know what lies ahead. All I can hope for is that it'd a blessings in disguise.
- I was terribly sick and that made me feel depress for a while.
- My hubby dropped me the bomb that he owes quite a bit of money because of speculation.

Things are soooooooooooooooooooooooo much better now. Especially when I've learnt a few precious lessons.
- how to praise God in painful times.
- how to rely in God's steering and not get overly stressed over it.

there are other lessons I should learn but the defiant nature of mine does not allow that to happen. But I am sure when I commit my weakness to HIM, I will overcome.

for records

It's holiday. Nathan and Tasha expressed it loud and clear by singing "What time is it?" from HSM Wii last night : "It's our vacation. What time is it? Party time. That's right, say it loud!" haha. We've all been too pressured to do well for their exams... yes, I wrote it correctly, WE. not THEY.
get it?

Nathan did pretty okay, I think he (and I) had very high expectations but I was please with his results - although his Maths went from the 90/100 percentile to the 80/90 as I find the exam paper challenging myself.

It wasn't the results that he got a earful from me. It was his attitude for not doing post mortem learning, he sorta realised that he should put in more effort in the learning process than focusing on just getting the marks right.

When I went on my company's KL trip, he went for his P5 camp. On Sat, when he came back at noon, I asked if he called home during his camp. He said : mum, no news is good news. Urh, okay.. so this guy is talking smart alecky. I learnt from my nephew that he won the best male camper. whoa. I questioned why he didn't tell me himself, his reply was that there was a gift and he wanted to tell (and surprise) me when he open his prize.

When we went for lunch that day, he wallopped an adult size spaghetti, kids size meat balls set and a Diam cake - in record time of 15 mins! He must have missed good food :)

It's Tasha's first exam this year since her school implements no P1 exams. I had thought that she might be jittery so my expectations were lower. She managed to pull through and with flying colors! 100% for her chinese paper 2! Not sure if that means she is much stronger in language.

Over the weekend, we took our time to do some of the things we never really get to do for the past few months - RELAX!

We even found time to do the coloring competition at downtown east - walking distant from our place.

their parents brought a portable table for them, now why didn't I think of that?

Although we didn't win anything, it was a good time we spent just doing some of these things outside our norm.

The best part was, we didn't have to eat out. Their daddy stayed home to cook dinner for us :)

it's been some time

Quite a bit of drama in April that I didn't really sat down to think through the moments. I realised that I've been whirled into May 2008.

It's Exam week. I tink I am pretty cool about it. At least I am still at work but pump the poor kids with loads of practice papers. There is no way to do last minute revision and preparation but by them doing up the practice papers, it helps me relax. How evil can I get? haha.

By 14th, I'd be freed up. I can relax for the next couple of months.
The company is doing a short trip to KL at the third week of may but it'd be mostly work.
The family is gonna do a cameron highlands in June, complimentary resort stay by my BIL. Cool and fresh air.


... but I'm thinking beach.

too little time and I worry a tad too much to be able to do that beach break.

Lotus root chips

So I did try it last evening.
I am so game to try out new recipes - those express ones. Since last week, I've tried to do Nigella's few dressings and roast. When I saw vanessafrida's recipe on the chips. I couldn't resist. I just needed to buy the garlic powder and lotus root - I needed something for soup last night anyways.

The kids saw me mix in the garlic powder and thought poorly about it initially. But they whipped up the whole bowl of chips almost as quickly as we did.

For recipe, click here to check it out.