From my previous post about our relocation......
Yup. The family has relocated from Jakarta to Melbourne in June/July 2012.
What has happened since then?
Boys started Term 3 of 2012 School Year in July - S1 in Year 9 and S2 in Year 7.
Due to the cut-off dates of their birthdays, S1 remained in the same year group as he was at BIS Jakarta. As for S2, he was moved to a year ahead. Thus notice the 2 years difference only...versus in their previous school. S1 in Year 10 and S2 in Year 7, ie. 3 years difference.
(Note: In the British System, the Years are up to 13; whereas in Australia, it is up to 12 ...just like in the States)
Both boys assimilated quite well into their new school, I think.
Although S1 theoretically repeated 1/2 year of school; it was good thing. At least he could spend the time making new friends, building up on the social stuff and not having to worry about catching up work. As he had already completed his IGCSE Maths in May 2012 (got an A, but not an A*.....definitely due to his carelessness! It was sooooo close to an A* that the teacher from BIS actually wrote to me for permission to get his paper remarked. They were hoping to an another A* into their list so that they can 'brag' about it on the results table. The remark came back unchanged. I tell you... I've marked my son's work. He is one of the most careless boys I know. He can have the right answer, but write the wrong answer on the answer sheet. He can actually lose all his marks on carelessness. I tell you...that boy!!!), he was pretty ahead in his Maths. For Science, some repeated topics...but there were also some additional stuff that he learned which was not covered at BIS. Stuff like dissecting a cow's eye to look at the lens etc. Cool. I thought. English wasn't a problem. But Humanities was a bit of a problem, as there were topics on Australian History. Aiyo. Even the father, who is a history buff knows nothing about Australian history. Australia got any history one meh??? Overall, the final report was quite pleasing lah.
S2 did pretty well too. He was already in the Accelerated Maths group at BIS, so transitioning to a higher year group wasn't a problem for him. English was okay...except for Writing. The grade was 'expected level at this year group', which to an Asian KIASU mom is NOT good enough!
If you've seen the Dr.XiaXia YouTube videos... We are Asians NOT Bsians!
Hahahahah..
How about me? Nothing much to report... other than being the maid (okay...not so much maid lah. Since boys do most of the housework like vacuuming, washing up, mopping, dusting, sweeping up leaves etc), cook, driver, etc...
More about me in a different post... a different day.
Anyway, we went back to Malaysia during the long Summer Holidays... for a month. We left Melbourne on the 23rd of December 2012, and got back on the 23rd of January 2013.
I have to say it was GREAT not having to do housework nor cook.
Gawd. I hate thinking of what to cook each day! Damn sien man.
This last week, I had to cook both lunch and dinner... I was going a bit crazy already. Can you imagine if I had to worry about lunch and dinner for one whole month? DIE lah...
Okay... to be continued
Showing posts with label General Updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Updates. Show all posts
Friday, February 01, 2013
Monday, October 22, 2012
Big Changes Down Under....
What would one expect?
Moving from Asia... to a DEVELOPED COUNTRY. Speaking of DEVELOPED COUNTRY, I should change the write-up about "MYSELF". I am no longer living in a developing country, and no longer an expat wife. I'm sure is still a Nomadic Mom... cause we are still living in a rented home, and we WILL be moving sometime or other!
When are we buying a home here? Donno the answer at this point in time. So don't ask. :-)
So the part where we are living in a rented home (like what we have been doing in all our expat relocations) has NO CHANGE.
So what are the big changes?
For one, I NO LONGER have a driver, and I have since become THE DRIVER. I didn't mind this at all.... until soccer started last week ...IN THE EVENINGS! It's the time that I am usually changed in my ugly, loose and comfy pyjamas and plonked in front of the tv kind of time. So you can imagine the 'inconvenience' of having to pop out to drop and pick-up and hour later. What time? Start times ranging from 6.50 to 7.30 depending on days. 3 days of Soccer (split between the 2 boys) and then there's a day of tennis... and now Saturdays with Archery.
Actually, there's the Sunday for S2's Parkour down at Southbank. But I had to draw a line and ask him to drop it. Tooooooooooooooooooo far a drive, plus the $8 parking is off-putting. And I don't know how to kill 2 hours in the city on my own. Once Twice is okay lah... but every week, cannot tahan. Soccer and Tennis is actually quite close by.... to drive, but not close enough to walk laaaa
What about the other main change? NO MAID? Actually, I didn't have a maid back in Jakarta for awhile... Too much problem. How am I coping? Not too bad lah. Boys help out with the dishes after meals, and they will mop and vaccuum in the weekend. Only once in awhile, I will clean their toilets.... I get them to clean their own toilets weekly. S2 was like "EEWWWWWW" when I showed him their urine stains.. and it was quite funny cause the next day when his friend came, he said "please aim properly cause I have to clean it!". Hahahahha...
Not having a maid in Jakarta was not a problem, cause we could still send out our laundry to the "Laundry Kilo-an" - Laundry done by the kilos. They will wash, iron and fold (ironing not perfect but who cares??). Here... I gotta do the laundry and the ironing. Winter has its perks. Everybody wore their jumpers and NO NEED TO IRON! Now, Spring is here, more of those white shirts are seeing the sunlight... and thus have to iron. Bought myself a terrer super-duper steam iron, which actually made ironing easier. I wouldn't say that ironing is pleasurable, but it sure is easier.
What I find really hard about moving Down Under is COOKING EVERYDAY!!!!!! In Jakarta (or anywhere else in Asia for the matter), going out for a meal is soooooooo easy, convenient and cheap. Australia is blardy expensive. H keeps insisting that the noodles are almost same priced as Jakarta, cause you get double the amount. Yes. Portions are bigger, but still expensive. $$ aside, I find the larger portions also a bit troublesome... cause I would then have to ta-pau the other half, and EAT IT THE NEXT DAY. Yerrrrrr... donwan to eat same thing over and over again wor? But I don't wanna waste it either. SO how? And I find I can't eat what I want. Because of the larger portions, S1 will order what he wants, S2 will order what he wants, and I end up with whatever they cannot finish. Damn sien... It's better if H is around, then he becomes the one that eats everybody's leftovers. Hahahahah
Biggest change? Is not having the other half here with me 50% of the time... cause of the business in Jakarta. Is kinda lonely.... especially after I drop the boys to school, and I come back to an empty house. Really need to get a job of whatever to just get out.... otherwise damn sien and bored. And you know what is worse? EATING WHEN BORED!!! I've put on about 4 kgs since I moved here. How not to? The cheeses, the ice-creams, etc etc....
Speaking of jobs... it's not easy.... They stress for 'local experience' blah blah blah. I thought I'll just volunteer for something, but even that seems a bit ma-fan with the hours and days that they want you to commit. No such thing as just go and help out when you are free kind. Know what I mean?
Anyway, See how lah.....
Other than that, I think boys are settling in quite well, and at least I don't have to worry about them. Just somehow ... NO HOMEWORK ONE WORRRRRRRR...
Still so much to update.... maybe tomorrow lah...
Moving from Asia... to a DEVELOPED COUNTRY. Speaking of DEVELOPED COUNTRY, I should change the write-up about "MYSELF". I am no longer living in a developing country, and no longer an expat wife. I'm sure is still a Nomadic Mom... cause we are still living in a rented home, and we WILL be moving sometime or other!
When are we buying a home here? Donno the answer at this point in time. So don't ask. :-)
So the part where we are living in a rented home (like what we have been doing in all our expat relocations) has NO CHANGE.
So what are the big changes?
For one, I NO LONGER have a driver, and I have since become THE DRIVER. I didn't mind this at all.... until soccer started last week ...IN THE EVENINGS! It's the time that I am usually changed in my ugly, loose and comfy pyjamas and plonked in front of the tv kind of time. So you can imagine the 'inconvenience' of having to pop out to drop and pick-up and hour later. What time? Start times ranging from 6.50 to 7.30 depending on days. 3 days of Soccer (split between the 2 boys) and then there's a day of tennis... and now Saturdays with Archery.
Actually, there's the Sunday for S2's Parkour down at Southbank. But I had to draw a line and ask him to drop it. Tooooooooooooooooooo far a drive, plus the $8 parking is off-putting. And I don't know how to kill 2 hours in the city on my own. Once Twice is okay lah... but every week, cannot tahan. Soccer and Tennis is actually quite close by.... to drive, but not close enough to walk laaaa
What about the other main change? NO MAID? Actually, I didn't have a maid back in Jakarta for awhile... Too much problem. How am I coping? Not too bad lah. Boys help out with the dishes after meals, and they will mop and vaccuum in the weekend. Only once in awhile, I will clean their toilets.... I get them to clean their own toilets weekly. S2 was like "EEWWWWWW" when I showed him their urine stains.. and it was quite funny cause the next day when his friend came, he said "please aim properly cause I have to clean it!". Hahahahha...
Not having a maid in Jakarta was not a problem, cause we could still send out our laundry to the "Laundry Kilo-an" - Laundry done by the kilos. They will wash, iron and fold (ironing not perfect but who cares??). Here... I gotta do the laundry and the ironing. Winter has its perks. Everybody wore their jumpers and NO NEED TO IRON! Now, Spring is here, more of those white shirts are seeing the sunlight... and thus have to iron. Bought myself a terrer super-duper steam iron, which actually made ironing easier. I wouldn't say that ironing is pleasurable, but it sure is easier.
What I find really hard about moving Down Under is COOKING EVERYDAY!!!!!! In Jakarta (or anywhere else in Asia for the matter), going out for a meal is soooooooo easy, convenient and cheap. Australia is blardy expensive. H keeps insisting that the noodles are almost same priced as Jakarta, cause you get double the amount. Yes. Portions are bigger, but still expensive. $$ aside, I find the larger portions also a bit troublesome... cause I would then have to ta-pau the other half, and EAT IT THE NEXT DAY. Yerrrrrr... donwan to eat same thing over and over again wor? But I don't wanna waste it either. SO how? And I find I can't eat what I want. Because of the larger portions, S1 will order what he wants, S2 will order what he wants, and I end up with whatever they cannot finish. Damn sien... It's better if H is around, then he becomes the one that eats everybody's leftovers. Hahahahah
Biggest change? Is not having the other half here with me 50% of the time... cause of the business in Jakarta. Is kinda lonely.... especially after I drop the boys to school, and I come back to an empty house. Really need to get a job of whatever to just get out.... otherwise damn sien and bored. And you know what is worse? EATING WHEN BORED!!! I've put on about 4 kgs since I moved here. How not to? The cheeses, the ice-creams, etc etc....
Speaking of jobs... it's not easy.... They stress for 'local experience' blah blah blah. I thought I'll just volunteer for something, but even that seems a bit ma-fan with the hours and days that they want you to commit. No such thing as just go and help out when you are free kind. Know what I mean?
Anyway, See how lah.....
Other than that, I think boys are settling in quite well, and at least I don't have to worry about them. Just somehow ... NO HOMEWORK ONE WORRRRRRRR...
Still so much to update.... maybe tomorrow lah...
Friday, September 14, 2012
WALIOW! It's been a long time...
Ya man. It's been ages since I update this blog. Not that anyone missed me... except my dad. He's been complaining that he doesn't know what's been happening to his two grandsons... as nobody tells him anything!
So dad. For your benefit... as well as my mind (errr.. I've been forgetting things/events that had happened), I'm gonna update the blog.
Well.... as you already know... Nomadic Mom has relocated to MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA...
Did I give you the long story why we did this? Another time lah...
For now, I just want to write down this (definitely ONLY for my benefit)
- Wed, 12 Sept 2012: Accident @ Toorak Road. Approx 4 PM.
- Thurs, 13 Sept 2012: Car sent to Workshop/ S1's Social at School
- Fri, 14 Sept 2012: House Inspection by Agent/ Pick up car (?)
Okay.. that's about it for the time being!
So dad. For your benefit... as well as my mind (errr.. I've been forgetting things/events that had happened), I'm gonna update the blog.
Well.... as you already know... Nomadic Mom has relocated to MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA...
Did I give you the long story why we did this? Another time lah...
For now, I just want to write down this (definitely ONLY for my benefit)
- Wed, 12 Sept 2012: Accident @ Toorak Road. Approx 4 PM.
- Thurs, 13 Sept 2012: Car sent to Workshop/ S1's Social at School
- Fri, 14 Sept 2012: House Inspection by Agent/ Pick up car (?)
Okay.. that's about it for the time being!
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Resurrection
Waaaaaa... Ages since I updated my blog. You guys must be wondering if NomadicMom is still alive. Well, she was gone for awhile but has now been resurrected!
Where shall I begin. To much has happened since my update. Really don't know where to start. How about the fun stuff first? Like I am off to Bangkok this weekend. Nope. No husband. No children. Just little ole me. Meeting Sis No.2 there. She will be flying in from Singapore...
Other current updates... Boys' grandpa is here for a visit. Initially was a babysitting trip because we thought that H had to travel, and with my maid going off for a week and me going to work, we needed an adult at home to be with S2. Out little fella had acute appendicitis which had to be removed on CNY's eve. Talk about timing!!!!
Blog more soon!!!!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A Boring Summer?
SUMMER HOLIDAYS
Boys have been complaining that this Summer is sooooooooo boring. No travels to ANYWHERE.
Are they spoilt or Are they spoilt?
School holidays must go somewhere one meh?
We've been so busy in the last couple of months. So many things to do.. the start-up, moving house, my TESOL course etc. How to plan to go away for a Summer Getaway like usual? Not possible lah. At first, I thought I will send the boys back to PJ with my mom... but then H said that the house (I should say apartment now) would be toooooooooooo quiet without the boys, and he says we would need the constant need of 'scolding them' to break the monotonous mood despite of our busy schedules. Hahhaha.. So boys had to stay put. They were not to happy I have to say.
Parents being parents... we tend to spoil them ... I know I said "School holidays must go somewhere one meh?", and yet I went to book a short 4 night getaway to Bali for early August. YES. Bali again... because we can't getaway for too long, and easy to book. Plus boys look forward to it all the same. H initially thought about Perth. But with Perth, we'll need more days.. plus the flying time... (or rather the connecting at Changi etc). Bali at this time is pretty expensive compared to other months... SUMMER holidays and all. But what to do.... we spoil our kids, right?
NEW HOME
Move and unpacking all done. Did I tell you that they (the movers) had to chop off 3 cm off my dining table legs? They tried and tried to bring it through the door, but they just couldn't. The carpenter was then called upon and off the legs went! But it's okay lah. My dining table was slightly higher than the norm to start with. So it sits pretty well now. Re-upholstered my 6 OLD dining chairs....FINALLY. After donno how many years of saying that I was going to. Thought they were quite reasonable.. Less than 100 ringgit each. Then I asked them to make 2 new chairs (so I have 8 chairs...) ...then my throat almost got cut. But I guessed still okay lah. 350 ringgit per chair. Okay, right?
Everybody is setting in our new home. And with the internet fixed... all is good!
Am happy that things (my furniture, junk etc etc) can fit in quite nicely. Well, I did sell quite a lot of stuff (maid's bed, maid's stove, 2 teak loungers, teak chairs and table, Ikea dining table, a sofa...). I do still need a cupboard though. YIKES! More buying? As if we don't have enough stuff?
When I signed the 'Completed Job' sheet.. saw that we have over 225 boxes (big and small, including sofas and beds). Took the removal company four whole days to pack and move the stuff over. How did we end up with so much stuff, I don't know.
I tell you... really scared of moving!
TESOL COURSE
As for my TESOL course, am working vvvvvverrrrrryyyy slowly. Completing only about a unit per week. To date, already completed 12 units. 8 more to go. Not bad lah hor? More than halfway through! My next unit is the tough one.. ALIEN symbols!
Okay. Not exactly Alien symbols .... but those funny (phonology? Or whatever they call it) symbols that you use for pronunciation. We never learn it, and neither does my children at the British school... So how come we only use it to teach Speakers of Other Languages? Why native speakers do not require them? Mmmmm....
START-UP
We are still looking for a location for our start-up. We have found one that we all liked but the owner might be a problem... telling our assistant that the price is not negotiable, then giving a higher price than what we were told, then the lot is let out already etc etc. We then contacted the agent, and then received an official proposal. So donno lah.. Off to see more shoplots tomorrow...
Boys have been complaining that this Summer is sooooooooo boring. No travels to ANYWHERE.
Are they spoilt or Are they spoilt?
School holidays must go somewhere one meh?
We've been so busy in the last couple of months. So many things to do.. the start-up, moving house, my TESOL course etc. How to plan to go away for a Summer Getaway like usual? Not possible lah. At first, I thought I will send the boys back to PJ with my mom... but then H said that the house (I should say apartment now) would be toooooooooooo quiet without the boys, and he says we would need the constant need of 'scolding them' to break the monotonous mood despite of our busy schedules. Hahhaha.. So boys had to stay put. They were not to happy I have to say.
Parents being parents... we tend to spoil them ... I know I said "School holidays must go somewhere one meh?", and yet I went to book a short 4 night getaway to Bali for early August. YES. Bali again... because we can't getaway for too long, and easy to book. Plus boys look forward to it all the same. H initially thought about Perth. But with Perth, we'll need more days.. plus the flying time... (or rather the connecting at Changi etc). Bali at this time is pretty expensive compared to other months... SUMMER holidays and all. But what to do.... we spoil our kids, right?
NEW HOME
Move and unpacking all done. Did I tell you that they (the movers) had to chop off 3 cm off my dining table legs? They tried and tried to bring it through the door, but they just couldn't. The carpenter was then called upon and off the legs went! But it's okay lah. My dining table was slightly higher than the norm to start with. So it sits pretty well now. Re-upholstered my 6 OLD dining chairs....FINALLY. After donno how many years of saying that I was going to. Thought they were quite reasonable.. Less than 100 ringgit each. Then I asked them to make 2 new chairs (so I have 8 chairs...) ...then my throat almost got cut. But I guessed still okay lah. 350 ringgit per chair. Okay, right?
Everybody is setting in our new home. And with the internet fixed... all is good!
Am happy that things (my furniture, junk etc etc) can fit in quite nicely. Well, I did sell quite a lot of stuff (maid's bed, maid's stove, 2 teak loungers, teak chairs and table, Ikea dining table, a sofa...). I do still need a cupboard though. YIKES! More buying? As if we don't have enough stuff?
When I signed the 'Completed Job' sheet.. saw that we have over 225 boxes (big and small, including sofas and beds). Took the removal company four whole days to pack and move the stuff over. How did we end up with so much stuff, I don't know.
I tell you... really scared of moving!
TESOL COURSE
As for my TESOL course, am working vvvvvverrrrrryyyy slowly. Completing only about a unit per week. To date, already completed 12 units. 8 more to go. Not bad lah hor? More than halfway through! My next unit is the tough one.. ALIEN symbols!
Okay. Not exactly Alien symbols .... but those funny (phonology? Or whatever they call it) symbols that you use for pronunciation. We never learn it, and neither does my children at the British school... So how come we only use it to teach Speakers of Other Languages? Why native speakers do not require them? Mmmmm....
START-UP
We are still looking for a location for our start-up. We have found one that we all liked but the owner might be a problem... telling our assistant that the price is not negotiable, then giving a higher price than what we were told, then the lot is let out already etc etc. We then contacted the agent, and then received an official proposal. So donno lah.. Off to see more shoplots tomorrow...
And once we finalise on the lease, we need to send the renovators in... Lots more to do!
Website is coming on nicely. Still need to purchase photographs, add and edit content, and some bits and pieces here and there.... Met with the website designer yesterday and I could see that he was a bit unhappy when I complained about the drop-down menu. I mean I DO want the drop-down menu, but when I click once on say "Our Services", I expect to see the main page of "Our Services", and I don't want to need to click TWICE. He kept saying drop-down menus are like that. I said if it's really either/or, I will rather have my main "Our Services" page shown than the drop-down menu. He was like "you want this menu, now you don't want this. Drop down menus are complicated to make blah blah blah ". I got a bit cheesed-off and then said "that's why I am engaging your services right? If I don't need all these fancy things like drop-down menus, I could design my own website like what you saw before" and proceeded to show the simple yet workable website that I made with Joomla. Lucky the 'manager' was more sik-chou and he said "yeah yeah".
Still so much to do... instead of one step at a time, think need to accelerate a bit liow....
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Updates. Updates. Updates. 14 June 2011
First thing first...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!!
Today is my beloved Mommy's birthday. Wonder what she she did for her birthday today.
Yes. I did call her earlier this morning to send her birthday wishes. As for boys, think they called about 2 hours ago.
PACKERS/MOVERS
The packers will be coming in 2 week's time. Actually, less than two weeks ~ 10 days.
I'm told that they will take 4 days to pack my stuff. Need 4 days meh?
My main concern is my 2.2 m (or longer? donno) 8-seater dining table. It's not the size.... it's because DUMBO me agreed to have solid legs for the dining table when I had it fabricated .... forgetting that I am a nomadic mom! Helllllooooo. Mana brain oh?
So how to move the blardy huge table with jutting legs ah? I thought when the packers came to look-see, they would say the legs need to be chopped. They were unsure... and they went off to check. When I emailed them a couple of days later, they said the table can go into the apartment without chopping the legs. REALLY?
Now, I just pretend everything is okay. But deep down hor, I am scared that they are gonna tell me ON THE DAY OF THE MOVE that my table cannot masuk loh. ADOI!
My girlfriend tried to reassure me ..."They know their stuff lah. That's why you are NOT in that business!". Sure hope she is right!
SELL. SELL. SELL.
With us moving into an apartment; naturally I had to sell some furniture... especially those that currently sits on my terrace. I printed out some coloured leaflets and pinned them on the school's notice board after school yesterday. I had also placed an advert on one of the expat mailing list service this morning. And what do you know? Everything is sold (though not picked up).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!!
Today is my beloved Mommy's birthday. Wonder what she she did for her birthday today.
Yes. I did call her earlier this morning to send her birthday wishes. As for boys, think they called about 2 hours ago.
PACKERS/MOVERS
The packers will be coming in 2 week's time. Actually, less than two weeks ~ 10 days.
I'm told that they will take 4 days to pack my stuff. Need 4 days meh?
My main concern is my 2.2 m (or longer? donno) 8-seater dining table. It's not the size.... it's because DUMBO me agreed to have solid legs for the dining table when I had it fabricated .... forgetting that I am a nomadic mom! Helllllooooo. Mana brain oh?
So how to move the blardy huge table with jutting legs ah? I thought when the packers came to look-see, they would say the legs need to be chopped. They were unsure... and they went off to check. When I emailed them a couple of days later, they said the table can go into the apartment without chopping the legs. REALLY?
Now, I just pretend everything is okay. But deep down hor, I am scared that they are gonna tell me ON THE DAY OF THE MOVE that my table cannot masuk loh. ADOI!
My girlfriend tried to reassure me ..."They know their stuff lah. That's why you are NOT in that business!". Sure hope she is right!
SELL. SELL. SELL.
With us moving into an apartment; naturally I had to sell some furniture... especially those that currently sits on my terrace. I printed out some coloured leaflets and pinned them on the school's notice board after school yesterday. I had also placed an advert on one of the expat mailing list service this morning. And what do you know? Everything is sold (though not picked up).
Go here to have a look at my stuff for sale.
I think I may have put tooooooooooooooo low a price for them! Otherwise why so laku?
But I really wanted to sell them quick. I didn't want to have to resort to giving them FOC to my staff. This morning, my maid already came and ask me for one of the unused mattresses!
H AWAY. MOM ON THE WAY
Yup. H has gone to Europe again. Supposed to visit 4 cities, but I think he has decided to trim it to just 2 this time round. Too hectic.... with our impending move etc.
And dear mommy is coming to help her hopeless daughter to monitor/supervise the packers. She'll be staying for 3 weeks. Kinda worried if she will go GILA staying so long.
okay lah.. am quite tired and sleepy. Gonna go to bed now. Nite Nite.
I think I may have put tooooooooooooooo low a price for them! Otherwise why so laku?
But I really wanted to sell them quick. I didn't want to have to resort to giving them FOC to my staff. This morning, my maid already came and ask me for one of the unused mattresses!
H AWAY. MOM ON THE WAY
Yup. H has gone to Europe again. Supposed to visit 4 cities, but I think he has decided to trim it to just 2 this time round. Too hectic.... with our impending move etc.
And dear mommy is coming to help her hopeless daughter to monitor/supervise the packers. She'll be staying for 3 weeks. Kinda worried if she will go GILA staying so long.
okay lah.. am quite tired and sleepy. Gonna go to bed now. Nite Nite.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Am I drowning yet???
Not yet... but almost!
Really have been soooooo busy with all sorts of things. See my last post on the list of things that my feet have got into. Plus I have resumed my painting sessions on Mondays......as if I have a lot of leisurely time. As we usually say "no time to even pang-sai"! Errr... actually that isn't quite true as my belly hasn't been well for awhile, I have been running to the loo pretty often.
S1
For some time now, I have been tutoring S1 every night (with some exceptions) to ensure that he is confident in his Mathematical concepts. End-of-Year test is in a few weeks time, plus there is a end of Key Stage 3 Standardised Testing. As he is keen to get to the top Maths set, he has been quite determined. No need to nag him to do those past year exam papers. And today, he came home with 3 sets of past exam papers..... He knew that he needed the practice and I am stingy with my printer ink so he got it all printed at school..... all out of his own initiative!
I have to say that I was impressed and a little bit proud. For years, I have been complaining about his tidak apa attitude. This new determination to excel is a great change. ... Err but of course he is still determined to have his weekend PS3 Game time!!!
S2
The ABRSM results came back. Our friend just narrowly passed! He was pretty disappointed with his results, of course. Told him that he should practise more diligently the next time. I kept reminding him that Grandma complained that he didn't even practise for 15 minutes, when he should have practised for at least an hour. Hopefully he has learnt his lesson and will not be too over-confident about his abilities. Next year then....
Private Tutoring
.... from zero student last week to three this week. Yesterday was my first fee-paying student. Don't know whether if I was boring or she was really indeed tired as she kept yawning and rubbing her eyes (she came straight from school and said she was up earlier than usual). Not sure if she will continue....although her mom wants her to. But teenagers being teenagers, cannot force them if they are not willing to. I mean I could be blabbering for 2 whole hours and if she is not concentrating, she will not be learning either. And tomorrow I will have 2 students in 2 different sessions - 1 in the morning and another just after lunch. Hopefully they will be awake.
TESOL Course
I am only at Unit 2 and there is still 18 units to go. Want to pengsan liow. Have to squeeze-in time to complete each unit. Took me about 3 hours to complete Unit 2 today. Prepositions, Conjuctions, Infinitives, Gerunds, Adjectives... Waliow! Cannot remember all liow....
In case anyone is interested, I am doing this with ITTT. Don't ask me if they are good cause I don't know....
Business Start-UP
Quite a number of challenges....that is keeping me up in the night thinking and worrying. I know it is rather silly to be worrying in the night when I can't actually solve anything. But what to do? I am a worrier. Been so stressed that pimples are coming out everywhere..... and I mean everywhere! Leave it to your imagination on where exactly pimples are coming out! Hahaha...
House-Hunting
Yup! We may have to move to another house. Why?
Because we have been living in this house for the last five years and things are all starting to wear and really tear. H just came in and told me to get someone over to fix all the toilet bowls... water flowing continuously. And a few days ago, water was leaking through the S1's ceiling and some of his books were soaked. Boy! Was he mad!
Plus we want to find somewhere cheaper and within a complex. At the moment, we are paying almost USD 700/mth for our security guards, and that is a lot of money. Especially when it is out of our own pockets. So...wish me luck to find a lovely and affordable home.
Okay lah.... gotta go. Gotta send out a work email.
Really have been soooooo busy with all sorts of things. See my last post on the list of things that my feet have got into. Plus I have resumed my painting sessions on Mondays......as if I have a lot of leisurely time. As we usually say "no time to even pang-sai"! Errr... actually that isn't quite true as my belly hasn't been well for awhile, I have been running to the loo pretty often.
S1
For some time now, I have been tutoring S1 every night (with some exceptions) to ensure that he is confident in his Mathematical concepts. End-of-Year test is in a few weeks time, plus there is a end of Key Stage 3 Standardised Testing. As he is keen to get to the top Maths set, he has been quite determined. No need to nag him to do those past year exam papers. And today, he came home with 3 sets of past exam papers..... He knew that he needed the practice and I am stingy with my printer ink so he got it all printed at school..... all out of his own initiative!
I have to say that I was impressed and a little bit proud. For years, I have been complaining about his tidak apa attitude. This new determination to excel is a great change. ... Err but of course he is still determined to have his weekend PS3 Game time!!!
S2
The ABRSM results came back. Our friend just narrowly passed! He was pretty disappointed with his results, of course. Told him that he should practise more diligently the next time. I kept reminding him that Grandma complained that he didn't even practise for 15 minutes, when he should have practised for at least an hour. Hopefully he has learnt his lesson and will not be too over-confident about his abilities. Next year then....
Private Tutoring
.... from zero student last week to three this week. Yesterday was my first fee-paying student. Don't know whether if I was boring or she was really indeed tired as she kept yawning and rubbing her eyes (she came straight from school and said she was up earlier than usual). Not sure if she will continue....although her mom wants her to. But teenagers being teenagers, cannot force them if they are not willing to. I mean I could be blabbering for 2 whole hours and if she is not concentrating, she will not be learning either. And tomorrow I will have 2 students in 2 different sessions - 1 in the morning and another just after lunch. Hopefully they will be awake.
TESOL Course
I am only at Unit 2 and there is still 18 units to go. Want to pengsan liow. Have to squeeze-in time to complete each unit. Took me about 3 hours to complete Unit 2 today. Prepositions, Conjuctions, Infinitives, Gerunds, Adjectives... Waliow! Cannot remember all liow....
In case anyone is interested, I am doing this with ITTT. Don't ask me if they are good cause I don't know....
Business Start-UP
Quite a number of challenges....that is keeping me up in the night thinking and worrying. I know it is rather silly to be worrying in the night when I can't actually solve anything. But what to do? I am a worrier. Been so stressed that pimples are coming out everywhere..... and I mean everywhere! Leave it to your imagination on where exactly pimples are coming out! Hahaha...
House-Hunting
Yup! We may have to move to another house. Why?
Because we have been living in this house for the last five years and things are all starting to wear and really tear. H just came in and told me to get someone over to fix all the toilet bowls... water flowing continuously. And a few days ago, water was leaking through the S1's ceiling and some of his books were soaked. Boy! Was he mad!
Plus we want to find somewhere cheaper and within a complex. At the moment, we are paying almost USD 700/mth for our security guards, and that is a lot of money. Especially when it is out of our own pockets. So...wish me luck to find a lovely and affordable home.
Okay lah.... gotta go. Gotta send out a work email.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
General Updates - 30 April 2011
Yeah. What a boring title for this post. But what to do?
Cannot think... plus this post will have a myriad of topics...
PJ Visit
Took boys back to PJ during the 2-week Easter Break. Arrived in KUL on MAS on Saturday afternoon (9th April). Normally, don't really take MAS but as we booked quite last minute, the price on MAS worked out better compared to both AirAsia and KLM.
As you know, I left the boys with my parents and flew-off to the States with H on Monday (11th April), only arriving back in KUL on Friday (22 April). Basically, did some last minute shopping, visited the dentist, checked my eyes at Vista and then flew off the next day with the boys. So no time to do anything else. Didn't meet up with anyone..... Perhaps next trip.
US Trip
This trip was basically a vacation for H. He was so busy working prior to the trip. Weeks in Europe and then conference calls till 9 - 10 pm. Many times, I had to bring his dinner into his 'conference room' (which is actually our downstairs TV room). And now, he has gone to Europe again. My mom always says that my husband takes the plane as if it is a bus.... He arrived home on Friday (US to Asia), and then left on Sunday for his work trip (Asia to Europe) - basically circumventing the globe.
I have to say that we did nothing except eat, sleep, shop. No rushing to places. No visiting of touristy sights etc. Only touristy thing we did was watch The Jersey Boys.
The whole trip, my DSLR did not see the light of day. No photos to scrapbook with
So what's the use of me buying more scrapbooking stuff??
H thinks it is so that I can compete with my girlfriend KL, on who has more stuff!!!
hahahha... eh. But she wins hands-down lah.
Go check out her stuff.....
Start of Term 3
Term 3 of school started on the 25th April, 2011. So basically, boys only had Sunday to chill out before going back to school.
This term, both S1 and I are going to work hard for the Year 9 Assessments. He needs to show that he can do well to get into the top set. I have droned on-and-on about the stupidity of his school in my older post. They have decided that they will not extend the Additional Mathematics class to the 2nd Set (which is where S2 is currently at). As my friend kept saying " The School is 'DUMBING DOWN'".
I can accept all the nonsense if this is a FREE Public School... but it is NOT.
So you can imagine how frustrating it is.
Starting a Business
Yes. I am going to do it. This time for REAL.
Have been talking about doing something for years, and it was all NATO.
No Action Talk Only ....
Lawyers have been engaged (and paid) to draw up papers.....
Will let you know more details later when things are firm-up.
Tutoring
Okay. This one still NATO.
Only action that I actually did was to purchase the relevant books, and studying... Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I have the leaflet (to advertise my tutoring services) prepared but yet to be printed out. Still need to amend some text.
I probably only want to have one or two students per week. Need some time for all my other pursuits (be it fun, work or mommy obligations).
Online Course
I have recently signed up on a TESOL online course, i.e. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Errr... not that I really want to teach, I just want to get the Certificate. Why? Not sure why yet. Hahahhaha
Just did my first Unit yesterday, and have yet to receive feedback from my tutor.
There will be some kind of test (not sure how it is going to be done. Perhaps I have to go to a Center in town) at the end of the Course, in order to be certified.
By the way, did I mention that I actually went to take the IELTS test?
My score?
9.0 of course... Ahbahden??? hahahah
Okay lah... S2 is up. Need to ketuk him to complete some Math worksheets.
(What to do? All these ang-moh schools don't do enough.....don't give homework... don't challenge kids. Need to send them a copy of Amy Chua's book!!! )\
Cannot think... plus this post will have a myriad of topics...
PJ Visit
Took boys back to PJ during the 2-week Easter Break. Arrived in KUL on MAS on Saturday afternoon (9th April). Normally, don't really take MAS but as we booked quite last minute, the price on MAS worked out better compared to both AirAsia and KLM.
As you know, I left the boys with my parents and flew-off to the States with H on Monday (11th April), only arriving back in KUL on Friday (22 April). Basically, did some last minute shopping, visited the dentist, checked my eyes at Vista and then flew off the next day with the boys. So no time to do anything else. Didn't meet up with anyone..... Perhaps next trip.
US Trip
This trip was basically a vacation for H. He was so busy working prior to the trip. Weeks in Europe and then conference calls till 9 - 10 pm. Many times, I had to bring his dinner into his 'conference room' (which is actually our downstairs TV room). And now, he has gone to Europe again. My mom always says that my husband takes the plane as if it is a bus.... He arrived home on Friday (US to Asia), and then left on Sunday for his work trip (Asia to Europe) - basically circumventing the globe.
I have to say that we did nothing except eat, sleep, shop. No rushing to places. No visiting of touristy sights etc. Only touristy thing we did was watch The Jersey Boys.
The whole trip, my DSLR did not see the light of day. No photos to scrapbook with
So what's the use of me buying more scrapbooking stuff??
H thinks it is so that I can compete with my girlfriend KL, on who has more stuff!!!
hahahha... eh. But she wins hands-down lah.
Go check out her stuff.....
Start of Term 3
Term 3 of school started on the 25th April, 2011. So basically, boys only had Sunday to chill out before going back to school.
This term, both S1 and I are going to work hard for the Year 9 Assessments. He needs to show that he can do well to get into the top set. I have droned on-and-on about the stupidity of his school in my older post. They have decided that they will not extend the Additional Mathematics class to the 2nd Set (which is where S2 is currently at). As my friend kept saying " The School is 'DUMBING DOWN'".
I can accept all the nonsense if this is a FREE Public School... but it is NOT.
So you can imagine how frustrating it is.
Starting a Business
Yes. I am going to do it. This time for REAL.
Have been talking about doing something for years, and it was all NATO.
No Action Talk Only ....
Lawyers have been engaged (and paid) to draw up papers.....
Will let you know more details later when things are firm-up.
Tutoring
Okay. This one still NATO.
Only action that I actually did was to purchase the relevant books, and studying... Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I have the leaflet (to advertise my tutoring services) prepared but yet to be printed out. Still need to amend some text.
I probably only want to have one or two students per week. Need some time for all my other pursuits (be it fun, work or mommy obligations).
Online Course
I have recently signed up on a TESOL online course, i.e. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Errr... not that I really want to teach, I just want to get the Certificate. Why? Not sure why yet. Hahahhaha
Just did my first Unit yesterday, and have yet to receive feedback from my tutor.
There will be some kind of test (not sure how it is going to be done. Perhaps I have to go to a Center in town) at the end of the Course, in order to be certified.
By the way, did I mention that I actually went to take the IELTS test?
My score?
9.0 of course... Ahbahden??? hahahah
Okay lah... S2 is up. Need to ketuk him to complete some Math worksheets.
(What to do? All these ang-moh schools don't do enough.....don't give homework... don't challenge kids. Need to send them a copy of Amy Chua's book!!! )\
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Busy Day...
The day started bright and early this morning. Was up at 5.50 am before my alarm rang at 6.10 am.
Usually, I will just check that boys are up and ready for school. But this morning, I had to prepare breakfast for the boys. What happened to my maid? Good question.
On Monday night (14th Feb), she said her son was ill and had to go home and will only come back to work on Wednesday morning (16th Feb). Baloney lah! I was going to give her a day off on Tuesday (15th Feb), in lieu of her off-day this Saturday (20th Feb). Usually, she will have a full 24-hour day, i.e. if she goes off at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, she should be back at 4.00 pm Wednesday. But this time, she told me she will come back Thursday morning. This was last Saturday (12th Feb) when we discussed about her off-day. Really taking me for granted! Her last off-day, I gave her 2 nights off which was over CNY. That is ME giving her off. How can she EXPECT to have 2 nights off ALL the time? I really hate it when they do this. Obviously I said NO.
So you say lah! Really son ill or bluff? My H said sure bluff. I think so too. Maybe she wants to spend Valentine's Day with her husband??
I put in the washing, then went off for my Yoga class. As usual, traffic was a nightmare. I tell you... if it is not for the tranquility of my house, I would have gone GILA long time ago. I got so fed-up that I hopped off the car in the middle of the road and walked to my Yoga class oblivious to the loud honking from the cars... they must be cursing this crazy woman in the middle of the road!!
After two hours, I got home. Showered, had a sandwich for brunch and then popped out to a blissful 2-hour facial (errr... stuck in the jam on the way there, of course!) and then to my waxing salon, to the supermarket to get groceries for tonight's dinner. Got home. Gave instructions to the maid (Yes. She did come back this morning... otherwise, I might have to postpone my trip) on dinner, and then pop out to the Factory Outlet on the way to the boys' school. Didn't manage to buy anything. Was supposed to look for a hat and perhaps a sweatshirt or two. Saw a Nike Sweatshirt which was only USD 8 but it was a bit dirty. Oh well...
From there, went to McD's to grab a burger and nuggets for the boys' snacks before zooming to their Mandarin Class. Dropped them off and then proceeded to the mall to buy a spare mobile phone - Need it so that mom can have a local number when she comes tomorrow. Yup. Boys' grandma will arrive tomorrow afternoon... to help with babysitting/supervising the boys while H and I are away. Before you go "Another Holiday??". No it is not a holiday. Okay...maybe HALF-holiday for me. But it is a WORKING trip for H. We are off to Helsinki.... It is a look-see trip for me since I have not been. Need to check out the place and see if I can actually live there.
Tomorrow will be another busy day... Chiropractic Appointment at 9 AM (Yup. Still seeing him. Oh. Did I mention he is quite good loooking? hehehehhe), pick-up Laundryamah at 10 AM from her hotel, and then off to do our nails at 10.30 AM. I have to plonk her back to wherever she wants to be by 2 PM, leaving me enough time to get home, and to send the car to the airport to pick my mom at 4 PM. And since tomorrow is Chap Goh Meh.... will surely need to have a CNY's meal with Grandma at a restaurant in town!
Usually, I will just check that boys are up and ready for school. But this morning, I had to prepare breakfast for the boys. What happened to my maid? Good question.
On Monday night (14th Feb), she said her son was ill and had to go home and will only come back to work on Wednesday morning (16th Feb). Baloney lah! I was going to give her a day off on Tuesday (15th Feb), in lieu of her off-day this Saturday (20th Feb). Usually, she will have a full 24-hour day, i.e. if she goes off at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, she should be back at 4.00 pm Wednesday. But this time, she told me she will come back Thursday morning. This was last Saturday (12th Feb) when we discussed about her off-day. Really taking me for granted! Her last off-day, I gave her 2 nights off which was over CNY. That is ME giving her off. How can she EXPECT to have 2 nights off ALL the time? I really hate it when they do this. Obviously I said NO.
So you say lah! Really son ill or bluff? My H said sure bluff. I think so too. Maybe she wants to spend Valentine's Day with her husband??
I put in the washing, then went off for my Yoga class. As usual, traffic was a nightmare. I tell you... if it is not for the tranquility of my house, I would have gone GILA long time ago. I got so fed-up that I hopped off the car in the middle of the road and walked to my Yoga class oblivious to the loud honking from the cars... they must be cursing this crazy woman in the middle of the road!!
After two hours, I got home. Showered, had a sandwich for brunch and then popped out to a blissful 2-hour facial (errr... stuck in the jam on the way there, of course!) and then to my waxing salon, to the supermarket to get groceries for tonight's dinner. Got home. Gave instructions to the maid (Yes. She did come back this morning... otherwise, I might have to postpone my trip) on dinner, and then pop out to the Factory Outlet on the way to the boys' school. Didn't manage to buy anything. Was supposed to look for a hat and perhaps a sweatshirt or two. Saw a Nike Sweatshirt which was only USD 8 but it was a bit dirty. Oh well...
From there, went to McD's to grab a burger and nuggets for the boys' snacks before zooming to their Mandarin Class. Dropped them off and then proceeded to the mall to buy a spare mobile phone - Need it so that mom can have a local number when she comes tomorrow. Yup. Boys' grandma will arrive tomorrow afternoon... to help with babysitting/supervising the boys while H and I are away. Before you go "Another Holiday??". No it is not a holiday. Okay...maybe HALF-holiday for me. But it is a WORKING trip for H. We are off to Helsinki.... It is a look-see trip for me since I have not been. Need to check out the place and see if I can actually live there.
Tomorrow will be another busy day... Chiropractic Appointment at 9 AM (Yup. Still seeing him. Oh. Did I mention he is quite good loooking? hehehehhe), pick-up Laundryamah at 10 AM from her hotel, and then off to do our nails at 10.30 AM. I have to plonk her back to wherever she wants to be by 2 PM, leaving me enough time to get home, and to send the car to the airport to pick my mom at 4 PM. And since tomorrow is Chap Goh Meh.... will surely need to have a CNY's meal with Grandma at a restaurant in town!
Happy CHAP GOH MEH everyone!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Another Jumbled Post - 17 Dec 2010
Donno what has been happening but time seems to just whoooooooooooooooosh past. Now it is coming to the end of 2010....
Last Day of School
Yup. Today is the last day of school for the boys. BUT I told them to just NOT go. We have a plane to catch later this evening, and H said that we ought to leave the house by 4 pm as SURELY the whole of Jakarta will be leaving tonight, and traffic will be a nightmare. (Last day for many International Schools) Since they won't be studying at all today, might as well stay home and NOT chance the traffic. They usually will arrive at 3.30pm from school but if traffic is bad, they might only get home at 4 pm...then they need to have a shower etc etc.
Actually, S1 already missed school on Wed and Thurs... diarrhoea. Donno what sai he ate. Took him to the clinic yesterday...and the doctor wanted his stool sample which he couldn't give. But he's fine this morning.
Speaking of my S1.... I donno if is just bad luck or that he just don't process things in his brain. We both set out to pick S2 from school - on arrival at school, he said he didn't want to come down from the car. Thus he waited with the driver. When I came out, he blurted "we can't get into the car". Guess what happened... Driver was in the bathroom and when he saw the driver, he decided to get out from the car. Didn't bother to wait for the driver to get into the car. Came out and somehow LOCKED the car. So the car was locked with the engine and aircond running. You say lah! What was he thinking? We had to call a cab to get home. Poor driver had to wait for the leasing company to send the spare keys!
I tell you.... I feel like sending him to an ARMY BOOT CAMP to learn to think! Not just always so tidak apa and NOT processing things. Need some TOUGH love here... *sigh*
Baking Baking...
Have been baking quite a bit over the last week.... with orders from friends as well as for the Charity Bake Sale at school. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have so many baking disasters. The blender that I used for processing the sugar grains conked out (wrote about this a few post back), and I had to buy the fine sugar from the shops. Didn't realise that some had additives that made the cakes FUNNY. It was quite a nightmare! But luckily, eventually did manage to find the right type of sugar. Anyway, I turned down two orders this week. Figured that I needed the time to pack etc etc.
For the Charity Bake Sale, I baked both vanilla and chocolate cupcakes - Sent 14 vanilla and 8 chocolate cupcakes for the Bake Sale. Would have sent more if NOT for the "individually wrapped" request from the PTA. Such a bummer to put them in the little boxes.
Porky Spread
Christmas Concert
The Primary Orchestra
Last Day of School
Yup. Today is the last day of school for the boys. BUT I told them to just NOT go. We have a plane to catch later this evening, and H said that we ought to leave the house by 4 pm as SURELY the whole of Jakarta will be leaving tonight, and traffic will be a nightmare. (Last day for many International Schools) Since they won't be studying at all today, might as well stay home and NOT chance the traffic. They usually will arrive at 3.30pm from school but if traffic is bad, they might only get home at 4 pm...then they need to have a shower etc etc.
Actually, S1 already missed school on Wed and Thurs... diarrhoea. Donno what sai he ate. Took him to the clinic yesterday...and the doctor wanted his stool sample which he couldn't give. But he's fine this morning.
Speaking of my S1.... I donno if is just bad luck or that he just don't process things in his brain. We both set out to pick S2 from school - on arrival at school, he said he didn't want to come down from the car. Thus he waited with the driver. When I came out, he blurted "we can't get into the car". Guess what happened... Driver was in the bathroom and when he saw the driver, he decided to get out from the car. Didn't bother to wait for the driver to get into the car. Came out and somehow LOCKED the car. So the car was locked with the engine and aircond running. You say lah! What was he thinking? We had to call a cab to get home. Poor driver had to wait for the leasing company to send the spare keys!
I tell you.... I feel like sending him to an ARMY BOOT CAMP to learn to think! Not just always so tidak apa and NOT processing things. Need some TOUGH love here... *sigh*
Baking Baking...
Have been baking quite a bit over the last week.... with orders from friends as well as for the Charity Bake Sale at school. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have so many baking disasters. The blender that I used for processing the sugar grains conked out (wrote about this a few post back), and I had to buy the fine sugar from the shops. Didn't realise that some had additives that made the cakes FUNNY. It was quite a nightmare! But luckily, eventually did manage to find the right type of sugar. Anyway, I turned down two orders this week. Figured that I needed the time to pack etc etc.
For the Charity Bake Sale, I baked both vanilla and chocolate cupcakes - Sent 14 vanilla and 8 chocolate cupcakes for the Bake Sale. Would have sent more if NOT for the "individually wrapped" request from the PTA. Such a bummer to put them in the little boxes.
Vanilla Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes
Left the cupcakes with a PTA mom and then went off to attend S1's Sports Day. Was surprised that there weren't any moms! I guessed the Secondary School kids do NOT want their parents to come?? Well, S1 didn't win in his events. Oh well...
After that, I went to help out in the Cake Stall. Was a bit surprised that they priced my cupcakes at RP 30,000/-. That's about USD 3.30 each. By the time I left, all my cupcakes were sold. Was quite pleased... as was abit worried that there weren't a big crowd on that day.
Porky Lunch
Hosted a very porky lunch at my house last Friday... just had a few angmoh friends over for a Chinese porky meal. I have been saying that I will cook a porky meal for many moons. So decided to have one and get over and done with. What's on the menu?
Roast Pork, Fried Udon Hokkien Style, Fried Vegetarian Beehoon, Vegetarian Curry, Pork Spring Rolls, Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Coca-Cola Chicken Wings and Fried Gyoza. Cut fruits for dessert. The Vegetarian stuff was because I had a vegetarian friend over...
As it was a porky lunch...my friend said to take a photo and scrap it. The title of the page would be "Put a Pork on your Fork!" hahahahha
Porky Spread
Christmas Concert
As per last year, S2 participated in the school's Christmas Concert on Wednesday. I tell you ...this fellow is another irresponsible and tidak apa boy. I had to email his teacher to ask if he is taking part... I was supposed to receive a consent form in November through S2, which I did not! The teacher had to email it to me, and I only signed and sent it on Tuesday. Yeah. A day before the concert! When it was supposed to be handed-in in November!!
Even on Tuesday night...when I told him to pack his flute and his concert attire, he still said that he didn't know if he was playing in the concert! PENGSAN!!!!
The Primary Orchestra
(I need a terrer ZOOOOOOOM lens!)
Yeah. I know... cannot see anything. What to do? My lens on my DSLR is the normal one.
They only played 2 miserable songs. And I mean the tunes sounded miserable. H said that it sounded like "New Orleans Funerals". Hahahha...
Two hour concert but my S2 was only on stage for 5 minutes. H was like "ah?? Just that?" ...cause I rushed him from his meeting with his clients. Hehehehe
Okay...better go check what else to pack....
Friday, December 03, 2010
A Jumbled Post - 3 Dec 2010
I realised that I have not talked about anything else other than my bidding on eBay! Read here, here, here and here. Okay...so no more eBay talk in this post.
Anniversary Surprise
Nope! H did not give me a diamond ring nor a handbag or whatever. Instead, he woke me up with a piece of news. He went "should I tell you, or should I not tell you".... irritating. He had just talked to his boss and "Finland or Singapore" was the option. Huh?? Apparently, his boss prefers that he goes to Finland but we prefer Singapore. So I said "I register the boys at the schools in Singapore?" but he said NO.
Huh??? So how like that??
Talk so much but still go back to nothing. I had been quite stress over this... as to where we are moving to. When we are moving? I know it sounds silly but it's like "Do I go and buy a plant for my garden? What if after I buy, we need to leave?". Really so unsettling... H doesn't understand why I am stressed. He just kept saying "leave it to me...."
So basically, NO answers for me.
Live day-by-day!
Bad Day!
Wednesday was a bad day! I had an order for a batch each of vanilla and chocolate mini cupcakes. As usual, I baked my vanilla first... and it turned out really bad. Taste was good but they looked bad. Overflowed from the cups... Donno why. I have been baking minis this way umpteen times without problems. I then baked another batch. Again. Looked bad. I actually baked a third time! Again. Disaster! Why? Why? Why?
Even my maid was surprised...as she commented "each time always good why today like that?".
The chocolate cupcakes came out beautifully though...
I gave up after baking 3 batches of vanilla cupcakes. I called my friend who had ordered the cakes to inform her that I can't deliver the vanilla ones...but will give her some foc (some cupcakes were sorta okay)...
What did I do with the extra cupcakes?
Boys ate some. Gave some to the hired help and S1 took some to school...
And you know what? My grinder decided to conk out on this day too.
The sugar crystals here are too coarse for baking so I usually use my grinder to process the sugar into finer grains. With having to bake so many blardy batches of vanilla cupcakes, I ran out of fine sugar...so had to grind a new pack. Bleahhhhh... Can't do so lor... Used the fine sugar (not exactly icing) that I have to bake... the cupcakes were sooooooo soft and fluffy. They were okay in normal sized cups but for the minis, they were just soooooooo fragile.
To top it all, I received a call from my landlord's office to inform me that they need to HACK my kitchen floor to sort out the plumbing! And also the maid's toilet to repair a leak. AIYO! Will be such a mess. Pengsan!
Discussed with H...and decided that they do all the hacking and repairing while we are away... I just have to get my maid to be around to monitor the works-in-progress (she usually gets a break when I go on a break).
Irresponsible
Did I mention that my kids are an irresponsible bunch?
The latest thing that went missing was S2's Nokia Mobile Phone. And apparently, he also borrowed his friend's school hat and lost that too. How to make him to be more responsible? Getting really fed-up. Somehow, both the boys take turns to either lose stuff or to misbehave. They just have to take turns to make me mad!
I really donno lah.
And just now.. I wanted to pack the boys' vacation clothes so I opened S2's wardrobe door. Guess what I found... a box of Dylan's Candy Store FUDGE, which has to be stored in the fridge. Donno why the heck he hid it in there! *sigh*
Anniversary Surprise
Nope! H did not give me a diamond ring nor a handbag or whatever. Instead, he woke me up with a piece of news. He went "should I tell you, or should I not tell you".... irritating. He had just talked to his boss and "Finland or Singapore" was the option. Huh?? Apparently, his boss prefers that he goes to Finland but we prefer Singapore. So I said "I register the boys at the schools in Singapore?" but he said NO.
Huh??? So how like that??
Talk so much but still go back to nothing. I had been quite stress over this... as to where we are moving to. When we are moving? I know it sounds silly but it's like "Do I go and buy a plant for my garden? What if after I buy, we need to leave?". Really so unsettling... H doesn't understand why I am stressed. He just kept saying "leave it to me...."
So basically, NO answers for me.
Live day-by-day!
Bad Day!
Wednesday was a bad day! I had an order for a batch each of vanilla and chocolate mini cupcakes. As usual, I baked my vanilla first... and it turned out really bad. Taste was good but they looked bad. Overflowed from the cups... Donno why. I have been baking minis this way umpteen times without problems. I then baked another batch. Again. Looked bad. I actually baked a third time! Again. Disaster! Why? Why? Why?
Even my maid was surprised...as she commented "each time always good why today like that?".
The chocolate cupcakes came out beautifully though...
I gave up after baking 3 batches of vanilla cupcakes. I called my friend who had ordered the cakes to inform her that I can't deliver the vanilla ones...but will give her some foc (some cupcakes were sorta okay)...
What did I do with the extra cupcakes?
Boys ate some. Gave some to the hired help and S1 took some to school...
And you know what? My grinder decided to conk out on this day too.
The sugar crystals here are too coarse for baking so I usually use my grinder to process the sugar into finer grains. With having to bake so many blardy batches of vanilla cupcakes, I ran out of fine sugar...so had to grind a new pack. Bleahhhhh... Can't do so lor... Used the fine sugar (not exactly icing) that I have to bake... the cupcakes were sooooooo soft and fluffy. They were okay in normal sized cups but for the minis, they were just soooooooo fragile.
To top it all, I received a call from my landlord's office to inform me that they need to HACK my kitchen floor to sort out the plumbing! And also the maid's toilet to repair a leak. AIYO! Will be such a mess. Pengsan!
Discussed with H...and decided that they do all the hacking and repairing while we are away... I just have to get my maid to be around to monitor the works-in-progress (she usually gets a break when I go on a break).
Irresponsible
Did I mention that my kids are an irresponsible bunch?
The latest thing that went missing was S2's Nokia Mobile Phone. And apparently, he also borrowed his friend's school hat and lost that too. How to make him to be more responsible? Getting really fed-up. Somehow, both the boys take turns to either lose stuff or to misbehave. They just have to take turns to make me mad!
I really donno lah.
And just now.. I wanted to pack the boys' vacation clothes so I opened S2's wardrobe door. Guess what I found... a box of Dylan's Candy Store FUDGE, which has to be stored in the fridge. Donno why the heck he hid it in there! *sigh*
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Whatsa beena happeningggg???
School Mid-Term Break
Boys are having their one week mid-term break which started last Saturday (13th November ), and will be going back to school on Monday, 22nd November. Initially, wanted to take them to Jogjakarta to visit the Borobudur and Prabanan Temples. But with Mt. Merapi huffing and puffing away, that is totally OUT of the question. So how to entertain them for one whole week?
Do Math and English worksheets?? hehehehe.. Yeah. Made them do some.
And today, S2 has 2 friends over...and the boys are having a ball upstairs.
Grandma is HERE
Boys' grandma is here in Jakarta for a week..... She arrived last Saturday (13th November) and will be going home on Sunday, 21st November. Yeah. Yeah.. coincided with boys' mid-term break. As I said, initial plan was for ALL of us to go to Jogjakarta but that's not happening. So grandma just have to contend to staying in this traffic-choked city. And not only that. My silly H said to my girlfriend "must make use of MIL...to babysit the boys" so that both of us can getaway. Yup. Both H and I flying to Bali tomorrow...
Just to take the plane...
H was back in KL last week for work... and then he went to Macau for work/leisure. Only came back on Saturday....arriving 30 minutes later than Grandma. Just before he boarded the plane at KLIA, he texted me about getting away.... since my mom will be around to babysit! Floated ideas of flying to Paris. I was like "you gila or what? Really never sit plane before??" It's really literally flying there on Wed (as he has to work on Mon & Tues) and then back again... Besides, we are already going on a long holiday in a month's time. Told him NO. Furtherst that I will fly-to is either Bali or Phuket. I suggested that maybe just book a hotel in the city. That's also getaway what. He said NO. Okay. Then decided on Bali. Just as I was booking the flight. He was still thinking of Hong Kong or Perth. Really loves to fly so much meh? Anyway, booked to fly-off to Bali tomorrow and back on Saturday morning. And what do you know? He called me up and said that his boss wants to have a mandatory meeting on Friday afternoon... and off I went to amend our flights to return on Friday. And less than an hour later, he texted me and said the meeting has been re-scheduled again. You say lah. I get irritated or not? Anyway, not changing the schedules anymore.... so just go for two nights.
Wouldn't cause so much of a problem if we would have just booked a room in the city, right???
Boys are having their one week mid-term break which started last Saturday (13th November ), and will be going back to school on Monday, 22nd November. Initially, wanted to take them to Jogjakarta to visit the Borobudur and Prabanan Temples. But with Mt. Merapi huffing and puffing away, that is totally OUT of the question. So how to entertain them for one whole week?
Do Math and English worksheets?? hehehehe.. Yeah. Made them do some.
And today, S2 has 2 friends over...and the boys are having a ball upstairs.
Grandma is HERE
Boys' grandma is here in Jakarta for a week..... She arrived last Saturday (13th November) and will be going home on Sunday, 21st November. Yeah. Yeah.. coincided with boys' mid-term break. As I said, initial plan was for ALL of us to go to Jogjakarta but that's not happening. So grandma just have to contend to staying in this traffic-choked city. And not only that. My silly H said to my girlfriend "must make use of MIL...to babysit the boys" so that both of us can getaway. Yup. Both H and I flying to Bali tomorrow...
Just to take the plane...
H was back in KL last week for work... and then he went to Macau for work/leisure. Only came back on Saturday....arriving 30 minutes later than Grandma. Just before he boarded the plane at KLIA, he texted me about getting away.... since my mom will be around to babysit! Floated ideas of flying to Paris. I was like "you gila or what? Really never sit plane before??" It's really literally flying there on Wed (as he has to work on Mon & Tues) and then back again... Besides, we are already going on a long holiday in a month's time. Told him NO. Furtherst that I will fly-to is either Bali or Phuket. I suggested that maybe just book a hotel in the city. That's also getaway what. He said NO. Okay. Then decided on Bali. Just as I was booking the flight. He was still thinking of Hong Kong or Perth. Really loves to fly so much meh? Anyway, booked to fly-off to Bali tomorrow and back on Saturday morning. And what do you know? He called me up and said that his boss wants to have a mandatory meeting on Friday afternoon... and off I went to amend our flights to return on Friday. And less than an hour later, he texted me and said the meeting has been re-scheduled again. You say lah. I get irritated or not? Anyway, not changing the schedules anymore.... so just go for two nights.
Wouldn't cause so much of a problem if we would have just booked a room in the city, right???
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Work also not so long....
Ya. really. Working also not so long hours...when I was working, I usually leave my house at 8 am, and that's to send S2 to my moms with the maid or whatever. And am usually back at my mom's house by 6.30 pm. But today....I have been out of the house since 6.45 am, and am still out.....waiting for H in a cafe in his office building. What to do? We only have one car, and to have the driver send me home first and then come back to pick H would be a nightmare. So...I just come and duduk here for half and hour to wait for H to finish work....that is, if he don't suddenly go into some last minute meeting!!
I constantly find myself having less and less time. I wonder why? I don't work now. Why always NO time one? Is it the traffic or just getting older that my "sau kiok Mann"(hands and legs slowed down)? Or just doing nonsense?
Maybe a bit of everything lah....
Anyway, I was at the US Embassy for 3.5 hours today. Had to apply US Visas for both the boys. Really really gila. I thought with their appointment system, should be a breeze but NO! I arrived at 7.30 am for my 8.00 am appointment. As usual, had to queue outside, then queue inside, then go through security, queue some more. Wait. wait. queue some more... And the interview was like 3 minutes! It was fast as both H and I have visas already. lucky boys needn't come along as they are under 14. Saw some aunties have their visa applications turned down. Like so "chamm". Can you imagine waiting for 3.5 hours and then they tell you DECLINED! Not come back another day but DECLINED? And these appointments have to be made waaaaaaaaay in advance. I actually submitted the boys' application on 22 August and earliest appointment that I could get was today. 1.5 months!!! Waliow! Also, here the officers seem scarier... I remember when I went to the US Embassy in KL, it wasn't as scary and long a wait as here.
And from US Embassy, I have to rush to the Thai Embassy to drop some papers off, and then to H's office to drop our passports off for our re-entry permit extension. Otherwise, after my 10-days away, I cannot enter back into the country!! And then went to my reallllllllllly long Mommies Lunch. Have to say a really long lunch. From noon to 4 pm!!! Not lunch liow. Includes afternoon tea also! Lucky I gave instructions to my maid on what to cook tonight. Errrrr...don't think I can or should eat. Must go on diet lah...had quite a lot of sinful desserts at lunch. What's the boys' dinner?
Good 'ole Bak Kut Teh.
I constantly find myself having less and less time. I wonder why? I don't work now. Why always NO time one? Is it the traffic or just getting older that my "sau kiok Mann"(hands and legs slowed down)? Or just doing nonsense?
Maybe a bit of everything lah....
Anyway, I was at the US Embassy for 3.5 hours today. Had to apply US Visas for both the boys. Really really gila. I thought with their appointment system, should be a breeze but NO! I arrived at 7.30 am for my 8.00 am appointment. As usual, had to queue outside, then queue inside, then go through security, queue some more. Wait. wait. queue some more... And the interview was like 3 minutes! It was fast as both H and I have visas already. lucky boys needn't come along as they are under 14. Saw some aunties have their visa applications turned down. Like so "chamm". Can you imagine waiting for 3.5 hours and then they tell you DECLINED! Not come back another day but DECLINED? And these appointments have to be made waaaaaaaaay in advance. I actually submitted the boys' application on 22 August and earliest appointment that I could get was today. 1.5 months!!! Waliow! Also, here the officers seem scarier... I remember when I went to the US Embassy in KL, it wasn't as scary and long a wait as here.
And from US Embassy, I have to rush to the Thai Embassy to drop some papers off, and then to H's office to drop our passports off for our re-entry permit extension. Otherwise, after my 10-days away, I cannot enter back into the country!! And then went to my reallllllllllly long Mommies Lunch. Have to say a really long lunch. From noon to 4 pm!!! Not lunch liow. Includes afternoon tea also! Lucky I gave instructions to my maid on what to cook tonight. Errrrr...don't think I can or should eat. Must go on diet lah...had quite a lot of sinful desserts at lunch. What's the boys' dinner?
Good 'ole Bak Kut Teh.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
It's already ONE WEEK!!!!
Yeah. One week since I came back from Melbourne. Where does all the time fly too? Maybe there is a BLACK HOLE out there somewhere that just sucks out all the time in the world....leaving disorganized suckers like me scrambling to try to finish off all the tasks at hand.
Really donno what I have been doing for the last one week man! Time really just whooooooooosh by! Let me try to recall what I did....(this is just for my record)
Wednesday - arrived in the morning, dropped H off at the office (Yup! He went straight to work! ...I couldn't never do this!), arrived home and had to unpack all our loot. I thought we didn't buy much (since exchange rate NOT favourable to us, almost parity with USD!) but when I put all the stuff on the table, it did give me a little bit of a surprise! Will post pictures later. Then took Dad out to Duck King for lunch....he said it was the best meal he's had since he arrived. He only ate out twice (at the food court!! because boys wanted different foods)...whilst we were gone. Can't remember what I did in the afternoon...
Thursday - I hopped onto the early morning school bus... as I had a Year 6 Parents Rep meeting. Yeah....so kepoh... volunteered for S2's class. What to do? His class sooo "chamm"....no parent wants to volunteer. Anyway, rushed home to take dad out grocery shopping, and then lunch at Penang Bistro, dropped him off at a massage place and then RUSH to school for my reading duty (for S2's class again). After that, waited in the school cafe for the boys to finish with the after-school activity, and then RUSH to Mandarin tuition. Went to the gym for an hour, and by the time I got home, I almost pengsan.
Friday - Dropped H off at work, then took dad to Chinatown in Glodok. Took him through the back lanes and streets...warned him NOT to buy any raw foods. He wanted to buy the shellfish...but aiyer, sitting under the sun for sooooo long. Sure will LAU SAI. Speaking of LAU SAI. S2 is home from school today. Vomitted and also LAU SAI. Donno if it's because of the edamame that he had yesterday....it's been sitting in the freezer for a long time already, and maybe some power outages might have made it gone off. Poor guy. Already soooo sau-mang-kai.
Anyway, we did eat in a little coffee shop in one of the back lanes. Nothing wrong lah... No LAU SAI or anything. From here, took him to Cafe Batavia for a cup of coffee... It's a building from the 19th century. Nice ambience... caters mainly to tourist, I would think. Dad then had a lunch of Hainanese Chicken Rice in some singaporean restaurant... I was still stuffed from brekkie so just watched him eat. Then it was off to D'Best Supermarket to buy my nasi lemak ingredients. Dad had wanted to learn how to make nasi lemak from scratch. My afternoon was basically cooking the nasi lemak, the sambal and the fried kunyit chicken. Had early dinner....as my day has not yet ended.
After dinner, I had to rush to JIS to pick S1. He had participated in an athletic meet.... supposed to end at 7.30 pm...but it ended at 9.00 pm. Not bad for his first athletic meet. My S1 ended 3rd in 200 m and 3rd in the Medley. There's another athletic meet at his school this Saturday.
Saturday - S2 had a birthday party. After we dropped him off, we went to Paulaner Brahaus for a porky brunch... and halfway through, my S1 was feeling ill (probably too much exertion from the night before???) so didn't do anything after lunch. Dad went for a massage and we basically had a simple dinner that night. After dinner, still had to trott off through the traffic to pick S2 from his friend's house.
Sunday - We took dad to Table 8 @ Mulia Hotel for their Dim Sum Brunch. Stayed there from 10 am for 2 hours (not because we wanted to, but because the porky stuff were only available at 11 am). Said our goodbyes to dad - as he was leaving for the airport immediately after lunch. We took a cab to the mall - H wanted a haircut, and to get a sports bag and shoes for S1. After seeing S1's performance, H felt that S1 needed proper gear. He said the bags that I have for my boys are too POOFY! Bleahhhh! Dinner again was pretty light.
Monday - The usual...Painting at my friend's house, and then to school to pick the boys up for their Mandarin tuition, and an hour at the gym.
Tuesday - Didn't go scrapbooking as my friend said there won't be power. So went to run some errands at the Singapore HC with H, came home - did my insurance claims, cleared some paperwork etc etc.
Wednesday - Supposed to go to the Thai Embassy with H...but then with S2 ill, decided to stay home instead. So here I am typing away on my keyboard when I am supposed to be clearing MORE paperwork from my work desk. Will I do it? Or do more nonsense on the computer???
Really donno what I have been doing for the last one week man! Time really just whooooooooosh by! Let me try to recall what I did....(this is just for my record)
Wednesday - arrived in the morning, dropped H off at the office (Yup! He went straight to work! ...I couldn't never do this!), arrived home and had to unpack all our loot. I thought we didn't buy much (since exchange rate NOT favourable to us, almost parity with USD!) but when I put all the stuff on the table, it did give me a little bit of a surprise! Will post pictures later. Then took Dad out to Duck King for lunch....he said it was the best meal he's had since he arrived. He only ate out twice (at the food court!! because boys wanted different foods)...whilst we were gone. Can't remember what I did in the afternoon...
Thursday - I hopped onto the early morning school bus... as I had a Year 6 Parents Rep meeting. Yeah....so kepoh... volunteered for S2's class. What to do? His class sooo "chamm"....no parent wants to volunteer. Anyway, rushed home to take dad out grocery shopping, and then lunch at Penang Bistro, dropped him off at a massage place and then RUSH to school for my reading duty (for S2's class again). After that, waited in the school cafe for the boys to finish with the after-school activity, and then RUSH to Mandarin tuition. Went to the gym for an hour, and by the time I got home, I almost pengsan.
Friday - Dropped H off at work, then took dad to Chinatown in Glodok. Took him through the back lanes and streets...warned him NOT to buy any raw foods. He wanted to buy the shellfish...but aiyer, sitting under the sun for sooooo long. Sure will LAU SAI. Speaking of LAU SAI. S2 is home from school today. Vomitted and also LAU SAI. Donno if it's because of the edamame that he had yesterday....it's been sitting in the freezer for a long time already, and maybe some power outages might have made it gone off. Poor guy. Already soooo sau-mang-kai.
Anyway, we did eat in a little coffee shop in one of the back lanes. Nothing wrong lah... No LAU SAI or anything. From here, took him to Cafe Batavia for a cup of coffee... It's a building from the 19th century. Nice ambience... caters mainly to tourist, I would think. Dad then had a lunch of Hainanese Chicken Rice in some singaporean restaurant... I was still stuffed from brekkie so just watched him eat. Then it was off to D'Best Supermarket to buy my nasi lemak ingredients. Dad had wanted to learn how to make nasi lemak from scratch. My afternoon was basically cooking the nasi lemak, the sambal and the fried kunyit chicken. Had early dinner....as my day has not yet ended.
After dinner, I had to rush to JIS to pick S1. He had participated in an athletic meet.... supposed to end at 7.30 pm...but it ended at 9.00 pm. Not bad for his first athletic meet. My S1 ended 3rd in 200 m and 3rd in the Medley. There's another athletic meet at his school this Saturday.
Saturday - S2 had a birthday party. After we dropped him off, we went to Paulaner Brahaus for a porky brunch... and halfway through, my S1 was feeling ill (probably too much exertion from the night before???) so didn't do anything after lunch. Dad went for a massage and we basically had a simple dinner that night. After dinner, still had to trott off through the traffic to pick S2 from his friend's house.
Sunday - We took dad to Table 8 @ Mulia Hotel for their Dim Sum Brunch. Stayed there from 10 am for 2 hours (not because we wanted to, but because the porky stuff were only available at 11 am). Said our goodbyes to dad - as he was leaving for the airport immediately after lunch. We took a cab to the mall - H wanted a haircut, and to get a sports bag and shoes for S1. After seeing S1's performance, H felt that S1 needed proper gear. He said the bags that I have for my boys are too POOFY! Bleahhhh! Dinner again was pretty light.
Monday - The usual...Painting at my friend's house, and then to school to pick the boys up for their Mandarin tuition, and an hour at the gym.
Tuesday - Didn't go scrapbooking as my friend said there won't be power. So went to run some errands at the Singapore HC with H, came home - did my insurance claims, cleared some paperwork etc etc.
Wednesday - Supposed to go to the Thai Embassy with H...but then with S2 ill, decided to stay home instead. So here I am typing away on my keyboard when I am supposed to be clearing MORE paperwork from my work desk. Will I do it? Or do more nonsense on the computer???
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Productive and Hardworking?
Who? Who?
Certainly not the hired help lah. I mean me, of course. Even my sisters have been saying so... Uploading pics to FB & blog, scrapbooking, going to the gym, lunching with friends (3x this week), 90-minute massage, grocery shopping, playing Word with Friends, baking etc etc....
Go here and here for my most recent painting uploads. I supposed you can tell that one of my favourite colours is RED.
Then there's my Lebaran cupcake order from my friend... and there will be another batch tomorrow.
Been going to school everyday this week... and will have to do so later today as well. There will be a presentation to Year 9 parents regarding the outcome of the inquiry into the incident this evening. Will update later.
Certainly not the hired help lah. I mean me, of course. Even my sisters have been saying so... Uploading pics to FB & blog, scrapbooking, going to the gym, lunching with friends (3x this week), 90-minute massage, grocery shopping, playing Word with Friends, baking etc etc....
Go here and here for my most recent painting uploads. I supposed you can tell that one of my favourite colours is RED.
Then there's my Lebaran cupcake order from my friend... and there will be another batch tomorrow.
Been going to school everyday this week... and will have to do so later today as well. There will be a presentation to Year 9 parents regarding the outcome of the inquiry into the incident this evening. Will update later.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
So What's Been Happening???
Since I wrote the post about coming home, I have been suffering with neck/upper arm pains. Yup. Since Friday night until now. I tell you... So many sessions of chiropractic adjustments - and it takes only ONE session of sitting in front of the computer (sorting out all those holiday photos) to mucked it all up!!! Yes. Yes. I admit my posture when doing so is terrible. BUT still?? Yes. Yes. No excuses!! Anyway, got my H to drive me to the chiropractic clinic on Saturday for my much-needed adjustment. No miracles...but there were LOUD cracks! Hopefully, I will get better soon - I have been doing my neck exercises and have bought a gym ball to sit whilst on the computer instead of a regular chair. Sitting on the gym ball forces me to sit upright and not slouch (cause if I slouch, the imbalance will cause my butt to land-on-the-floor). Also had a 90 minute body massage + an additional 10 minute shoulder massage during my cream bath yesterday. So should work kwa? Arm did feel better today... (Errr... actually, maybe I shouldn't be blogging so much today??)
Supposed to be eating LESS but then my H wanted to have the Chinese Buffet Brunch over at Mulia Hotel on Sunday... So off we went. Wah .. so LAKU. No more tables when we got there at 11.30 am. H was kinda disappointed as he was looking forward to eating the Roast Pork, Suckling Pig etc. We ended up having International Buffet instead. Not as satisfying and more expensive too. Actually, I was kinda surprised that there was a sizable crowd....I mean it is the Ramadhan month after-all.
Nothing much happening ler... other than mom and grandma visiting for 2 nights with 7 relatives from Macau. Met up with them for dinner on Monday night. And yesterday, mom took the 5 kids (3 relatives + 2 of mine) to Ancol. Supposed to go to the theme park but was sooooooooooooo packed (National Holiday) so went somewhere else. I took one of the cousins to the spa (90 minute massage and 30 minutes of scrub - Ahhhhh BLISS!). She was saying it was soooooooo cheap and insisted to pay. We then went for lunch, and some shopping (she bought four pairs of shoes), followed by creambath, and dinner... Other relatives and grandma? The Indonesian relative (whom they came to see) took them out.
Today? Ran some errands (paid some bills, took boys for their MUCH needed haircut)...that's it lor. S1 is still out with his friends. Left him at the mall to meet-up with his friends for a movie and dinner. Yeah. So big boy liow....
Supposed to be eating LESS but then my H wanted to have the Chinese Buffet Brunch over at Mulia Hotel on Sunday... So off we went. Wah .. so LAKU. No more tables when we got there at 11.30 am. H was kinda disappointed as he was looking forward to eating the Roast Pork, Suckling Pig etc. We ended up having International Buffet instead. Not as satisfying and more expensive too. Actually, I was kinda surprised that there was a sizable crowd....I mean it is the Ramadhan month after-all.
Nothing much happening ler... other than mom and grandma visiting for 2 nights with 7 relatives from Macau. Met up with them for dinner on Monday night. And yesterday, mom took the 5 kids (3 relatives + 2 of mine) to Ancol. Supposed to go to the theme park but was sooooooooooooo packed (National Holiday) so went somewhere else. I took one of the cousins to the spa (90 minute massage and 30 minutes of scrub - Ahhhhh BLISS!). She was saying it was soooooooo cheap and insisted to pay. We then went for lunch, and some shopping (she bought four pairs of shoes), followed by creambath, and dinner... Other relatives and grandma? The Indonesian relative (whom they came to see) took them out.
Today? Ran some errands (paid some bills, took boys for their MUCH needed haircut)...that's it lor. S1 is still out with his friends. Left him at the mall to meet-up with his friends for a movie and dinner. Yeah. So big boy liow....
Friday, August 13, 2010
Back Home ....
.....after about 4 weeks away. We flew back on AirAsia on Wednesday (11 Aug 2010) afternoon. Didn't realise that I had to upgrade my baggage allowance before checking-in the flights. Was about 8 kg overweight. Lucky mom is coming over with grandma and some relatives from Macau this Sunday - So mom's gonna bring some of my stuff over. No. She won't be staying with us. The whole gang will be staying in a hotel (don't know which one yet) for two nights only. Think they are here to visit an Indonesian relative - quite a close relative, it seems. In those days, when they set sail from China... one landed in Singapore and the other in Indonesia, I think.
Been grounded at home since we got back... as driver is ill and apparently hospitalized. Nope. I won't attempt to drive on my own. Don't want to risk hitting a motorcyclist and having him wedged under my car again! I supposed if it is really really emergency, I can drive lah. Boys must be really glad for not having to go to their Mandarin classes. I've been sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. Such a lazy girl... but did managed to sort out some holiday photos. Aiyo!! Such a big task! Next time, better NOT take too many photos!!!
Since grounded, we have been eating stuff from our larder and having KFC delivered last night. H is trying to come home early so that we could at least venture out of the house...
Loads of chores to do actually... boys need to have their haircuts and photos taken. Then there's the application submissions for the tests, visas etc etc. S2 need to have his braces fixed. I need to have my mouth guard fixed (been clenching my jaw so tightly that it is destroying my molars!!!).... And some other paperwork stuff. Fridge to be filled... Aduh!
Been grounded at home since we got back... as driver is ill and apparently hospitalized. Nope. I won't attempt to drive on my own. Don't want to risk hitting a motorcyclist and having him wedged under my car again! I supposed if it is really really emergency, I can drive lah. Boys must be really glad for not having to go to their Mandarin classes. I've been sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. Such a lazy girl... but did managed to sort out some holiday photos. Aiyo!! Such a big task! Next time, better NOT take too many photos!!!
Since grounded, we have been eating stuff from our larder and having KFC delivered last night. H is trying to come home early so that we could at least venture out of the house...
Loads of chores to do actually... boys need to have their haircuts and photos taken. Then there's the application submissions for the tests, visas etc etc. S2 need to have his braces fixed. I need to have my mouth guard fixed (been clenching my jaw so tightly that it is destroying my molars!!!).... And some other paperwork stuff. Fridge to be filled... Aduh!
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
First Few Days of Summer Break...
How have we been spending the first few days of the boys' Summer Break?
Bright and early on Saturday morning, we were off to the Ice Rink at MTA for a birthday party. Was there till about 1.30 pm. On the way back, there was a MASSIVE traffic jam. I think took us more than an hour to get home. All three of us (H stayed at home to finishe off some work from the office) slept like babies in the car. :-)
H was supposed to cook dinner - Spaghetti Vongole but he got lazy when we were out at the supermarket to buy the ingredients. We ended up having Singapore Char Kway Teow down in town. It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived at the restaurant...wasn't sure if we could make it out of the car. Ngeh-ngeh-lai ...we did. The alternative was to be sausages at Paulaner Brahaus again.
Made the boys do some work on Sunday morning...before heading out to Table 8 at Hotel Mulia for Chinese buffet brunch. Have to say the spread was pretty good with Roast Pork, Char Siew, Roast Spare Ribs, Suckling Pig, Black Pepper Beef Ribs, Porridge, Dim Sum (steamed, fried etc), Noodle Bar, Selection of cold starters (century eggs, duck tongue, edamame, baby octopus, jellyfish, etc etc), grilled items (fish, squid, clams, meat), yong tau foo, fried rice on order, seafood on order, and big spread of desserts. Needless to say, the four of us were stuffed! Nope. I didn't have dinner that night. Neither did H....but boys had pasta for dinner.
Monday... Oh I was lucky. My friend offered to take both my boys to the Dufan (Dunia Fantasi) - a theme park.... leaving me to go for my Monday Art Class, followed by a wonderful 90 minute massage at the spa. The alone time was pretty good...H was also out on a dinner meeting... leaving me sufficient time to clear a whole load of paper on my study desk. I only picked the boys up form my friend's house at 7ish pm.
And today started off easy. I took boys to T's house ...boys hung out while I had a cappucino with T's mom and another friend. Then I had to rush off to take S1 to the mall. My boy has certainly grown...his FIRST mall visit with his friends without mommy nor any accompanying adults. Then I had to rush to the money changer, and then to the bank...and then to pick S2 from Laser Tag. S2 had gone Laser-Tagging with T, his siblings and some friends. And what do you know? My S2 'lau-sai', and I had to rush home for him to clean himself up... ADUH!!! and then rush to the mall to pick S1.... and away we go to their mandarin class which is 40 minutes away.... Got home, cooked dinner - noodle soup (maid prepared but I wanna cook it...otherwise the noodles sure 'lam-pek-pek')...and here I am.
Errr....actually I should go and shower. I was at the gym when boys were at their Mandarin class... Sweat plus cooking smells... YUCKS!
Will continue later when I am smelling like roses....
Bright and early on Saturday morning, we were off to the Ice Rink at MTA for a birthday party. Was there till about 1.30 pm. On the way back, there was a MASSIVE traffic jam. I think took us more than an hour to get home. All three of us (H stayed at home to finishe off some work from the office) slept like babies in the car. :-)
H was supposed to cook dinner - Spaghetti Vongole but he got lazy when we were out at the supermarket to buy the ingredients. We ended up having Singapore Char Kway Teow down in town. It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived at the restaurant...wasn't sure if we could make it out of the car. Ngeh-ngeh-lai ...we did. The alternative was to be sausages at Paulaner Brahaus again.
Made the boys do some work on Sunday morning...before heading out to Table 8 at Hotel Mulia for Chinese buffet brunch. Have to say the spread was pretty good with Roast Pork, Char Siew, Roast Spare Ribs, Suckling Pig, Black Pepper Beef Ribs, Porridge, Dim Sum (steamed, fried etc), Noodle Bar, Selection of cold starters (century eggs, duck tongue, edamame, baby octopus, jellyfish, etc etc), grilled items (fish, squid, clams, meat), yong tau foo, fried rice on order, seafood on order, and big spread of desserts. Needless to say, the four of us were stuffed! Nope. I didn't have dinner that night. Neither did H....but boys had pasta for dinner.
Monday... Oh I was lucky. My friend offered to take both my boys to the Dufan (Dunia Fantasi) - a theme park.... leaving me to go for my Monday Art Class, followed by a wonderful 90 minute massage at the spa. The alone time was pretty good...H was also out on a dinner meeting... leaving me sufficient time to clear a whole load of paper on my study desk. I only picked the boys up form my friend's house at 7ish pm.
And today started off easy. I took boys to T's house ...boys hung out while I had a cappucino with T's mom and another friend. Then I had to rush off to take S1 to the mall. My boy has certainly grown...his FIRST mall visit with his friends without mommy nor any accompanying adults. Then I had to rush to the money changer, and then to the bank...and then to pick S2 from Laser Tag. S2 had gone Laser-Tagging with T, his siblings and some friends. And what do you know? My S2 'lau-sai', and I had to rush home for him to clean himself up... ADUH!!! and then rush to the mall to pick S1.... and away we go to their mandarin class which is 40 minutes away.... Got home, cooked dinner - noodle soup (maid prepared but I wanna cook it...otherwise the noodles sure 'lam-pek-pek')...and here I am.
Errr....actually I should go and shower. I was at the gym when boys were at their Mandarin class... Sweat plus cooking smells... YUCKS!
Will continue later when I am smelling like roses....
Friday, July 02, 2010
Some Updates.... 2 July 2010
Last Day of School
Yup. Today is the LAST day of the school year....and then it's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong Summer Break of games, TV, and what-nots till the boys' eyes pop out! Any ideas of how to entertain them outside the realm of electronics? I've signed (or rather got my sister to do the leg work) at a Football Camp for only four days. What about the other weeks?? Need to put them in Mandarin Classes too....
Guessed the boys are also gonna have a ball of a time at school today... no studying. Just fun fun fun. They ditched their school uniform for casual clothes this morning, and brought cupcakes to be shared with their friends.
Closure
There was a small service at school for Sei Young yesterday.... Only Year 8 students and family were invited. I supposed this service is to provide some kind of a closure for the school and the students. Before I even went into the theatre, I already started crying. I just broke down when I saw her parents walk into the foyer....her father carrying a photograph, the way how we Asians carry the deceased's photograph. A parent is not meant to do this for their child!
The service started with her friends describing how she was, her smiles, her antics...and how they missed them. We had speeches/ prayers by the heads of the school and and also the key SAR coordinator. When the photo presentation of Sei Young came up on screen, I could see her mother breaking down.... Oh how I feel for her. As a mother, you can imagine her pain, sorrow and grief.... But we really cannot imagine how she is feeling. I am sure the pain is too great to put in words. When the service ended, I just had to give my S1 a big big hug.
There was another service yesterday at the Korean Union Church...opened for all. I forgot about this one, and when my friend texted to ask if I was going, I absent-mindedly said YES as I was thinking of the service at school. .... May Sei Young be at Peace....
Terrible Terrible
Don't know why suddenly why all my PY2B posts are of the sad sad topics....which require me to write about the recent tragic events. It feels absolutely terrible to use these tragic events to earn a few bucks. Please forgive me.....
Time for GoodByes...
This year the turnover of expats is especially HIGH. I have so many good friends leaving. I supposed we feel it more this time because this posting is by far the longest for both H and me. Previously, we are the ones that would leave after 1 1/2 to 2 years....
This year, many people are leaving...both at school as well as H's office. My poor H has no more good pals at work that he can go out drinking or gila-ing with. He used to play in every Tuesday in the pool league but not anymore....as his kakis have all gone to the Middle East. And yesterday, he was at a farewell for another colleague/friend who will return to Australia. And another colleague/friend who will be off to South Africa in August. What about us? You ask? I don't know when or where we will be going next.... Yes. He was offered to go to the Middle East. And Nope. He doesn't want to go there.
Both S1 and S2 have very good friends leaving too. I am sure you have heard me mention S1's friend T who lives down the road from us. The family will relocate to Seoul.... Not only the boys will miss them. I will too! T's mom had just given me her Klik-n-Kut Cutter!!!! I came home one day, and there it was ....RIGHT at my door! Eh. This thing costs a few hundred dollars. Told her I couldn't accept it...but she was adamant that I keep it. She said she wouldn't have space in her shoebox apartment in Seoul. I will post a pic later...
Well...THANK YOU, S!
And then there's another family....who will relocate back to Switzerland. These two families are the ones that the boys usually have sleepovers with... Either at their place or ours. *sigh* ...
Well, will definitely visit them one of these days.. Hey. Maybe end of this year SKIING holiday for the boys? Both Seoul and Switzerland and both SKIING destinations. Can plan, yeah?
Another family...also leaving to go to Singapore. This friend of mine has been here for the longest of time, think maybe 9 years? Ever since I knew her four years ago, she has been saying that they are leaving. They are leaving...and never happen. This year...finally confirmed.
And then there's of course the other families that are leaving...that I am not to close with...
You know what sucks? It's when your friendship has grown a little closer and then you find that you will have to lose the friend....Okay. Maybe not lose lose per se. But you know what I mean, right???
Travel back to Malaysia
Boys and I will be going to back to Malaysia on Tuesday, 13th July...on one of the AirAsia flights...don't know which one; and staying on till the 11th of August. I actually leave for Moscow on the 15th of July.... and will only get back on the morning of 1st August 2010...and off to Penang on the 7th. I supposed that leaves me only 5 full days in PJ to do what I wanna do..... Yeah. Sounds kinda packed...
Okay lah. Later...
Yup. Today is the LAST day of the school year....and then it's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong Summer Break of games, TV, and what-nots till the boys' eyes pop out! Any ideas of how to entertain them outside the realm of electronics? I've signed (or rather got my sister to do the leg work) at a Football Camp for only four days. What about the other weeks?? Need to put them in Mandarin Classes too....
Guessed the boys are also gonna have a ball of a time at school today... no studying. Just fun fun fun. They ditched their school uniform for casual clothes this morning, and brought cupcakes to be shared with their friends.
Closure
There was a small service at school for Sei Young yesterday.... Only Year 8 students and family were invited. I supposed this service is to provide some kind of a closure for the school and the students. Before I even went into the theatre, I already started crying. I just broke down when I saw her parents walk into the foyer....her father carrying a photograph, the way how we Asians carry the deceased's photograph. A parent is not meant to do this for their child!
The service started with her friends describing how she was, her smiles, her antics...and how they missed them. We had speeches/ prayers by the heads of the school and and also the key SAR coordinator. When the photo presentation of Sei Young came up on screen, I could see her mother breaking down.... Oh how I feel for her. As a mother, you can imagine her pain, sorrow and grief.... But we really cannot imagine how she is feeling. I am sure the pain is too great to put in words. When the service ended, I just had to give my S1 a big big hug.
There was another service yesterday at the Korean Union Church...opened for all. I forgot about this one, and when my friend texted to ask if I was going, I absent-mindedly said YES as I was thinking of the service at school. .... May Sei Young be at Peace....
Terrible Terrible
Don't know why suddenly why all my PY2B posts are of the sad sad topics....which require me to write about the recent tragic events. It feels absolutely terrible to use these tragic events to earn a few bucks. Please forgive me.....
Time for GoodByes...
This year the turnover of expats is especially HIGH. I have so many good friends leaving. I supposed we feel it more this time because this posting is by far the longest for both H and me. Previously, we are the ones that would leave after 1 1/2 to 2 years....
This year, many people are leaving...both at school as well as H's office. My poor H has no more good pals at work that he can go out drinking or gila-ing with. He used to play in every Tuesday in the pool league but not anymore....as his kakis have all gone to the Middle East. And yesterday, he was at a farewell for another colleague/friend who will return to Australia. And another colleague/friend who will be off to South Africa in August. What about us? You ask? I don't know when or where we will be going next.... Yes. He was offered to go to the Middle East. And Nope. He doesn't want to go there.
Both S1 and S2 have very good friends leaving too. I am sure you have heard me mention S1's friend T who lives down the road from us. The family will relocate to Seoul.... Not only the boys will miss them. I will too! T's mom had just given me her Klik-n-Kut Cutter!!!! I came home one day, and there it was ....RIGHT at my door! Eh. This thing costs a few hundred dollars. Told her I couldn't accept it...but she was adamant that I keep it. She said she wouldn't have space in her shoebox apartment in Seoul. I will post a pic later...
Well...THANK YOU, S!
And then there's another family....who will relocate back to Switzerland. These two families are the ones that the boys usually have sleepovers with... Either at their place or ours. *sigh* ...
Well, will definitely visit them one of these days.. Hey. Maybe end of this year SKIING holiday for the boys? Both Seoul and Switzerland and both SKIING destinations. Can plan, yeah?
Another family...also leaving to go to Singapore. This friend of mine has been here for the longest of time, think maybe 9 years? Ever since I knew her four years ago, she has been saying that they are leaving. They are leaving...and never happen. This year...finally confirmed.
And then there's of course the other families that are leaving...that I am not to close with...
You know what sucks? It's when your friendship has grown a little closer and then you find that you will have to lose the friend....Okay. Maybe not lose lose per se. But you know what I mean, right???
Travel back to Malaysia
Boys and I will be going to back to Malaysia on Tuesday, 13th July...on one of the AirAsia flights...don't know which one; and staying on till the 11th of August. I actually leave for Moscow on the 15th of July.... and will only get back on the morning of 1st August 2010...and off to Penang on the 7th. I supposed that leaves me only 5 full days in PJ to do what I wanna do..... Yeah. Sounds kinda packed...
Okay lah. Later...
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Definitely Better...
Yes. I have to say the new week after the horrible one was definitely better. Our lives have somewhat resumed to normality....except that S2 is still coughing and my internet connection is still bonkers. However, I am sad to say that up till today Sei Young is still not found. The grief and suffering her parents are enduring is tremendous. There are rumours and beliefs that surrounds her disappearance which I will post later.
Anyway, there's another two weeks of school before the boys break for Summer....which means all-day TV and GAMES!!! I am trying to arrange for some scheduled activities in PJ for the boys so that they are FORCED to attend. If I leave it up to them, they will prefer to stay home and play games till their eyes POP OUT from the sockets. So what am I looking for? Maybe Mandarin Classes and Soccer Camp. Anyone know any good providers? How about good Mandarin teachers that will come to the house? ...maybe 3 times a week. Please recommend. Thanks.
We will be back on the 13th of July....and returning back on the 11th of August. Err...actually, boys will be back for those days. H and I are going to Moscow and the States from the 15th till end of the month. (H insists that we take a twosome holiday annually). Initially, was contemplating of having the boys with us this Summer holiday but decided that we will plan our family holiday for Xmas/New Year period instead. I get back just in time to have a party for S1's 13th birthday party (party is a couple days earlier than his actual birthday), which will be a joint one with his friend that will also be back for the holidays (they live in HK). What will be doing for the 13-year olds? Donno yet....hahahahah
I know my post is a bit mixed-up...but I think my brain is kinda mixed-up. I had a dream two days ago....that I lost S1 in the city of Moscow. Somehow he was found and brought to me by a Muscovite Police. I could really feel the relief in my heart when I hugged S1. Gila or not? I supposed the compartments in my brain that stores information about my trip to Moscow and missing SY just got criss-crossed.
Okay...later. Got to go scrapbooking now.
Anyway, there's another two weeks of school before the boys break for Summer....which means all-day TV and GAMES!!! I am trying to arrange for some scheduled activities in PJ for the boys so that they are FORCED to attend. If I leave it up to them, they will prefer to stay home and play games till their eyes POP OUT from the sockets. So what am I looking for? Maybe Mandarin Classes and Soccer Camp. Anyone know any good providers? How about good Mandarin teachers that will come to the house? ...maybe 3 times a week. Please recommend. Thanks.
We will be back on the 13th of July....and returning back on the 11th of August. Err...actually, boys will be back for those days. H and I are going to Moscow and the States from the 15th till end of the month. (H insists that we take a twosome holiday annually). Initially, was contemplating of having the boys with us this Summer holiday but decided that we will plan our family holiday for Xmas/New Year period instead. I get back just in time to have a party for S1's 13th birthday party (party is a couple days earlier than his actual birthday), which will be a joint one with his friend that will also be back for the holidays (they live in HK). What will be doing for the 13-year olds? Donno yet....hahahahah
I know my post is a bit mixed-up...but I think my brain is kinda mixed-up. I had a dream two days ago....that I lost S1 in the city of Moscow. Somehow he was found and brought to me by a Muscovite Police. I could really feel the relief in my heart when I hugged S1. Gila or not? I supposed the compartments in my brain that stores information about my trip to Moscow and missing SY just got criss-crossed.
Okay...later. Got to go scrapbooking now.
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