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.

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.

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 :)

kids questions

I am trying out the telecommunting scheme every Wednesdays. Last week, I had breakfast with my girl and she asks the strangest questions.
- Why do babies die in the stomach?
Her question took me quite by surprise and after answering her. It got me thinking on how I just wanted a normal, healthy baby then and how I've progress to demand so much more from her now. There are times like this that brings me back to the equilibrium. What are the essential moral education and when will it be too much to ask when I try to push her to do more than she wants to. I could be too loop sided sometimes in trying to think that it's their potential but I need to be more sensitive in not going on to lose the bond over the eagerness for their success.

When I asks why the question, it's apparently just another topic her friends and her discussed.

hmmm....

Then, my son asks me yet another strange question after our jog last evening.
- Do you put money in CPF?
- How do you do so?
- How do those who has their own business put money in CPF?
I thought it strange since it really doesn't affect a 10 year old very much. This is more factual so it's much easily tackled. He shrugged when asked why the questions, saying that there are just this hype over CPF monies and he just wanted to know the basis of it.

It's times like this I am amaze how "grown" they are and they are really thinking kids, not babies anymore. At 10 and 7, they curiosity and attitude are at the next level.

wow.

look-a-like meter

my sis put this up and I thought it'd be quite fun too to try to do the matching..





I have stronger genes?

This maid thing...

is driving me nuts. I animated over lunch to a colleague on what happened last night with my maid and I confirm it in my head that I should not be relying so much on her.

Over the last one and half years of hiring her to do the job, in fairness, she had been rather quick to pick up the skills which I wanted her to. When she is in the right frame of mind (not thinking of her own home problem), she handles my housework and kids okay. She does not steal or see other man (I hope). Although I tell her not to make friends, she disobeyed, I have yet to really nip it.

But every 4-5 months, she will act up. She will give me attitude, talk back when I told her that the work is done incorrectly. And it really makes my blood boil when she does that. She quite so often has done the exact opposite of what I expect of her. And it usually elevates when she calls home and thinks that her mum is not managing her send home funds - like help her dad with his medical fee.

It happened again, starting from last tues when I find it strange that her dinner presentation was bad. I suspected that she must have called home again and got affected by her family. But I kept mum and observed her. Then yesterday, Natasha had a fall and scraped her knee. With that, there was a small open wound and very dirty feet. I instructed Natasha to wash up the wound to avoid infection but she forgot. I have not even undress for the night as I was packing other stuff and she asked Natasha to change into her long pants pajamas, which Tasha blurr blurr follow instructions. I was mad at both of them so I reprimanded both. Natasha quickly changed into her short pants and I turn to the maid and asked her why she tells my daughter to do the wrong thing. It was not the first time she was told that wounds needs to be cleaned up. I did not have the time to do it immediately that's why I was mad that it happened too quickly and wrongly! She answered back that it was Natasha's fault. When I say that she was responsible for the wrong, she stared and "gin" at me - giving my attitude to tell me that I have wrongly accused her!!! My blood was definitely boiling at 100 degrees at this point so I ask her to get out of my sight, she answered back " so you ask me to go out one huh!". I fummed and I think my blood pressure must have gone up to by leaps. I pulled her shirt and bring her to my hubs and asks him to talk to her because I would slap her anytime.

When I cooled down, i asked her to point out what is going on. She admitted that she called home to find out that her dad is "tortured" under her mum. She says that she wants to go home to rest and bring her dad out and stay with her grandma first.
i told her that she's free to go but continued to nag at her because I was thinking of the hard work of training her and I have to start all over again.
My hubs hit the jackpot by showing her that if she continues for another 7 months, she has XXX amount. If she goes back now, she'll have to pay her air ticket and have only XX amount left. How much help can she give her dad with the XX amount now.

Before I slept, I felt I was stuck. Let her go and I have to train another one for another 3 months, may have chance that I have a problematic one too. Let her stay, I cannot be sure when she acts up again. Argh, the pain.

She apologises this morning and tells me she wants to continue to work. I just told her off that if she acts up again, I will not nag or hesitate to let her go and went on to work.

I called my Father-IL to go to my place to check on my girl so that I am assured that things does not go out of hand - just in case.

I am gonna do maid hunting again. Not so confident in her this time, compared to the last time. Perhaps it's because I have been alot nicer to her her yet she gives me such attitude which I cannot forgive so easily. when she first came, I set alot of firm rules so I may not be the easiest person to like at that time.

Aiyah, this is so frustrating. As a work outside home mum, I am just so helpless. I love my kids and I love my current job. There's gotta be some better way to handle this trapped situation, except, it might cost me alot more too. *sigh*

what a weekend!

Natasha is such a darling, she took some materials which I was preparing for Sunday school and started to do her father's day card for hubs.
As it turns out, it was a touching piece of work. My hubs got his affirmation of being a great dad from his little girl. The card says he is great because he teaches her everything! I am jealous. I didn't get anything that will jerk my tears on mother's day. heh, but I'm glad that my hubs is a great dad in the eyes of my children.
What I was really please with the little piece of work was that when she did it, she asks no one for help. At 6.5 years old, she has proven that she's independent and loving. Plus she can write passages on her own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
I never really know when is the dumpling festival. Every year, the only thing I know is to eat the delicious dumplings my MIL makes.
Some years ago, I tried to make the dumplings but always fail the last part of wrapping. It is really difficult and I gave up since. This year, I am very determine to get at least one out by myself. So on Sat, I set my mind, my soul, my hands to take on the task.
It took me 3 hours to finally accomplish the last step of wrapping. And I only did ONE. My skills needs lotsa practice. My sisters-IL and MIL had already done 170. haha, sounds like a loser hor. Hubs had to rub it in and told me to practise with sand. er horkay... growl.

The weather yesterday was so perfect. It was windy, non humid, dark clouds but no signs of rain.
We went biking at our nearby park. I rented the double bike and rode it with Nathan. We spent a great 1.5hrs being friends. Natasha and I did a 15mins ride on the double bike and she talked non-stop. haha.
They enjoyed it so much that they hope we can do it again.

We headed for dinner at trusted Pu Tien restaurant

Only at the orginal one. It's the second time we went back to the place. They provide valet parking, free corkage and good food with reasonable price. Another thumbs up for them for performing under stress. It was so packed with people but yet the quality of the food was only slightly compromised. We had:

1) Hing Hwa Combination Platter
2) Bamboo Herbal Prawns
3) Hin Hwa Fried Mee Sua
4) Deep Fried Duck with Yam paste
5) Fish soup
6) brinjal with pork floss (new dish)
7) fried bun with pork strips
8) sweet sour pork with lychee
9) Sea cucumber with vegetables

We wanted the home made bean curd but it was a sold out. too bad.

For 14 persons with the above dishes, we spent 390 bucks. My MIL was worried the bill will be about $500 plus, judging that the food was really yummy.

There was no pic taken because I was too hungry since we biked before dinner. Also, everyone was "snatching" food cos dinner started at 8pm.

The slight drop in standard was the mee sua. It was not fried the way I wanted it. I like the dry version but yesterday, they gave us the wet one. The fish soup, was not consistent. The first one we had sometime ago, the soup had more flavour. It added some fried dried scallops and shallots. There was none found in the soup yesterday although it was still yummy.

the food pics I took the first time we were there..

It was a long weekend for me as I was on leave on Friday. The morning half of the day was spent at father's niche. Without a doubt, we all miss him although there was significantly less tears. Mother did a prayer routine and I must say that it is impressive that she has , for the first time in her religion life, been so sincere and hold fast to the faith with God. I firmly believe that father is at rest in peace but mother just wanted to recite the petition prayers to God for the dead.

We headed for lunch at a Pu Tien restaurant. I am assuming that we went to Pu Xin which IMHO is quite outstanding and at $20 per pax, it's satifying. If the Pu Tien Seafood serves much better food, I reckon there's certainly something to look forward to. will upload some pics on lunchlater.

We spend the rest of the afternoon really lazing, nap, surf net for the Japan trip, watch Tee Vee.. then it was dinner at Man Fu Yuan restaurant with hub's parents and eldest sister. The service was first class and out of the many courses of dishes, the steamed Soon Hock is my favourite. the bill came up to be about $40 per person. That is with priviledged card, vouchers discounts.

certainly felt like a glutton for eating so much rich and expensive food. Not sure if there was any relation but I had insommnia on Sat morning... at 8am, I felt so drugged (food intoxication) that it was almost impossible to make me do any runs.

Thank God for partners who motivates. I was literally dragged out of bed, did a 1.8km jog and felt more refresh to conquer the day.

The day saw me through Isaac's birthday, PTN in church and cell meet up till 1am!

As much as I felt concussed, I promptly went to church at 9am to do my SS service. Love the kiddos. They are ever such encouragement to me.

The shopping experience at the new Giant at Tampines left me a really bad taste. It was simply too congested, noisy and dirty to have me talk about any great discounts.

To make up for the poor afternoon, I made fried fish soup for dinner after our walk at the park. That gave some comfort to start the week that is to come.

surprise!

I did mention that today is the official blog day for me. As I am writing this, Nathan is at the Mediacorp's audition for Spellcast. It's just for the experience, afterall it's gonna be quite fun for him to take a look at their studio.

Okay, now for the surprise news.. *drum rolling* i won 1st prize for a reward programme I was enrolled in... a trip for 2 to Japan!!!!
I've never won anything so grand before and it's really a treat!

how many and much is good...

I had my nephews over the whole of 9 days last week. They are 12 and 10. It gave me the chance to see if I could take care of 4 children as if they are of my own. It was all good, as it turns out, they were very obedient and great boys. Meal menu planned, laid down some simple houserules, went through with the 4 kids on their school tests/spelling etc... hey, I'm a pro!
It is not bad an idea to have so many kids in the house, we were able to fill up the monopoly and risk boardgame players. We had more exchanges of ideas on the TV programme we were watching. The house was filled with more laughter and quarrels. But overall, there was more energy filling up the space. But it was still such a short time to access whether it's a joy or pain to have that many children of my own.
I was and am content with just my 2 kids. I'm definitely stopping at 2 and have zero intentions and desires to have more. However, I don't deny that it's a joy to have more kids.. Whatever, God gave us children as like talents. We would need to be good steward over them.

----

Nathan had shown some great improvements in doing some discipline work on his own since this week's school break. He read the Bible and did some home assessment without my asking! That's showing really good signs of maturity.

I had some me-me time at the jog but there were some mental block when I did the rounds, I could only wrap up with 1.4km today. I did 1.9km last fri. Somewhat dissappointed that my stamina did not build up since but the goal is to do 2.4km by end of this week.

AT work, though it was planned that my trip to US was gonna be mid April, it might happen earlier.. uh oh. my boss will let me know when I'll be fed to the sharks.
So Jeff, if you are reading this, I may make my appearance earlier than I'm willing to.

Hubby is super stressed for his work but he had some great news to share. He's promoted! Thank God for His providence and blessings!

Lunar New Year

Whee..with the 2 days holiday that is right after weekend, there were 4 full days to rest and not think of work. I liked the way my holidays turned out.

This year, to respect that fact that my dad passed on last March, we intent to keep CNY celebration lowkey... not as if I am in the mood too. I practically left most of the CNY stuff to my hubby, he got some goodies, put up the deco and bought the flowers. He almost bought the tulips just for me.. so sweet of him, but I didn't allow that to happen.

flowers for his mum, 20 roses at 10 bucks!

Friday nite saw me going home at 5.30pm (almost sharp) and we took the kids out for our own nuclear family dinner at soup restaurant at the airport cos it's near. It's the first for the kids and the hubby (cos they are forever tempted by sakae sushi to try others food) and they loved it. The soup has so much goodness, the begger's ribs were finger linking, the chicken and the ginger sauce so refreshing, there were 2nd, 3rd, last helpings to the claypot tofu, the veg if the kids eat chilli would have been great but it was delicious too.. we polished off the dishes and every bit of rice. So satisfying with the capital S that we did not have room to snack on Popeye wings .

We had a round of family boardgame before we hit the z-land.

The next day, the hubby and I were inspired to jog at the nearby park since we had no obligations/classes to rush. it's first for me to run continously for 2km. Nathan who is usually most unkeen to work out, ran with me too. We felt superb-ly refreshed! We promised ourselves that we must do the jog more often.

The reunion dinner with my hubby's extended family was pretty standard. At his mum's place, "free" healthy homecook food (steamboat) - what more can I asked *wink*. No, I am not complaining but every year, I always lament that it did not feel like a reunion dinner as each will take their bowls of rice and veg and sits in front of the Tee Vee. Those who mahjong-ed will rush thru meal so that players can play longer... well, that IS the tradition for their family, I guess.

The following days were bits and pieces of visitations.. there is however one which was memorable cos I almost teared on the spot. We went to my MIL's second's bro's home, he saw my girl (the only grandchild who is willing to pay visits this year) and started pouring play gifts .. poppers, fuzzy yo yo, etc. It reminded me so much of Dad as this is prob something he would have done if he is still around. I really still can't bear the thought that he's not around anymore.

Day 3 was mainly for ourselves. The hubby and I jogged again without the kids, they wanted to laze around in bed. I stretch an extra 500m to add my previous 2km.. (in hopes to rid the accumulated goodies fat). oh, and I managed to get the speakers for my ipod before before heading my mum's place. with that, it wrapped up my New year.

I did not feel like I was dragged in to work on 4th day of lunar year, so that is a good sign. Cheers to the rest of the months to come!

Oh my!

Finally, going to the hairdresser this evening. It badly needs a trim, give the right colour for the white hair (growing old pains) and some treatment to the hair ends. This is my hair now. I will update the "then" in later post. Pics from my current sony ericsson W810i.

work front:

I felt pretty accomplished after getting back the cases to some of the sales people last evening. But this morning, it became crap all over again! And I am so stuck at most cases now, plus communicating over emails with different time zones is just too hard.. urgh. BUT, I am still glad to take a different role now esp having the experience to deal with overseas partners.

home front:

last night, Nathan and Natasha has calls from school friends.

Nathan is starting to want to hide things from moi. I asked him what is the name of the caller, in his exact words "can I don't tell you?" *grasp*, he's 9 going 10 years old and becoming so secretive?

I charmed him to tell me the name (which is Amelia). I did not comment a single thing in case he refuse to share anything with me in future. note to self : not to tease him anymore about girl school friends.