Reaching the stars.

I guess not many Chinese who watch TVB series, do not know about this place. It's the most familiar scenery ever since videotape was invented and those 2 hours tapes invaded every Chinese household.

When I was about 10, before the video player made a surprised existence in our very own living room, we peeked at our neighbor's TV every night to watch the series. Apart from that, there was a couple who stayed next to my grandma's home (about 10 mins bicycle ride away) who would accept 20 cents per pax to watch with them whatever was the hit then, at every 8.00 pm sharp. Those who can't afford the 20 cents, like me and my brothers and cousins, could stand outside and watched from the windows, without seats. We counted the number of people in there every night, bugger, the couple were making money, man! Those were the days.


Now, it is really such a bore to watch the slowly paced plot. Really can't understand why we were soooo addicted to it then. Then again, it did provide us entertainment at that time and something to look forward to at every 8pm.

I guess what made my mom impromptu bought the video player home was after a fight with my dad and she tak-kisah, just go shopping and make herself happy. Of course, that made us 3 jumped up and down with excitement too, glad for the first time of them fighting. But probably she had the itch to buy it for a long time, we really would not know.

So, that began our journey of watching Dodo Cheng, Chow Yun Fat and those soapy dramas all day long. We would watch TVB anniversaries or Miss HK pageants together at night, all sprawled out on the floor, laughing together contagiously and merrily. It was indeed something that held us closer.


I secretly wished to visit HK and walk on the pier of Tsim Sha Tsui for a long time, and that finally happen when I was in the late 20's. And we almost would take a stroll there every time we were in HK. This time round, I do feel indeed blessed to have a walk together with my own kids. And so much has changed, so many people crowding the area, it's not exactly the same anymore. However, the splendid view of HK across the straits is just the same, equally enchanting.

Sooo tired and exhausted. But I think they enjoyed the breeze and the area too. I did, for sure.

One for the family album.

What I haven't seen the last time is this Avenue of Stars, the equivalent of Hollywood's Walk of Fame, as everyone would know.

Look at his bunny teeth! Sometimes I really do feel it's too huge. Can't do much to help him, can I?


And off we were, looking at almost every star's name there.

Feeling the palms and fingers of Jackie Chan.

This is called the "legs apart" pose.

Imitating Maggie Cheung. Hey, I thought in this picture she looks a teeny weeny bit like her, but the 4 year old version, got?? can see??



And we hang on till night fall. It was an amazing night, but we were so tired, we had to adjourn back to the hotel soon after having our dinner. Had to sleep well for another long day ahead, anticipating excitedly for Disneyland. Yay!

Raining but dry water taps.

Bugger! It's 11pm and I haven't taken my bath yet, then the water taps ran dry, not a drop of water coming out, while outside it was raining. Should I just take off my clothes, with shampoo and soap in my hands and run outside?

With several options running in my mind, banker said he's not going to drive me anywhere else to take my shower, and insisted I should just have a quick one down in the clubhouse. So, all of us went down together, banker holding a pail in one hand with an umbrella in another, with the 2 younger ones tailing behind. It does seem like a daddy bear with 2 young cubs, just like the image I had seen in Canada on my honeymoon. He's going to fill the pail with water for emergency use till daylight.

The eldest son became my bodyguard, while I quickly and anxiously showered in the bathroom in the eerie quiet stillness of the clubhouse. Thoughts of a stranger storming in running wild in my mind, while I realized I forgot to take the soap in the rush. Sigh! Passing the swimming pool before I reach the bathroom, I was tempted to just dive in and come out, as a quick shower. Thinking about that, I remembered a Mills & Boons story I read while I was in my teens where the girl wore her first bikini to her employer's pool and have a midnight swim, and the handsome young son saw her and dot dot dot.

It sure feels good to be clean, although not as clean as I wanted to, but can't be complaining at this time of distress. Hopefully tomorrow, the water tap will stop mogok and back to work. It's the first time something like this happened since Day 1 we moved in, and gosh, life is just so inconvenient when there's no water supply!

The day of departure

Getting ready for a vacation requires more skill than just packing the necessities. There's the need to ensure the food in the fridge is cleared as much as we could. Reason being, we heard once of a traveller who came home and found his fridge stink like dead rat as dunno-when the electricity was cut off, presumably for days. Well, slim chance it would happen but still, chances are there, right?

Then, the packing. It's not just to pack my own clothes and toiletries, but also the rest of the family. And by then, I figured some things are missing, like the eldest son doesn't have a long pants to go with! He has outgrown his long pants so fast that that latest jeans weren't even worn for as long as I can remember.

So, we rushed off to get some pants for him together with some other stuffs to bring with. I figured I need to put in some "bribes" in my big bag for SOS use later on, when I need them to keep walking. And how right I was.

Then there's this need to ensure all the laundry were washed and hang, including the ones we were wearing right before changing to the travelling clothes. And I am very fussy in that I must come home from a expected tiring trip to a neat and tidy one, not to find all the things strewn all over the place. So, there I was, pack pack here, pack pack there, tidy here, tidy there, rubbish to be all out of the house as we go out too. And we finally set off! Yay!

All ready to go! Backpack, backpack! Ready for some adventure? (Ha! Like real meh?)

Bought a new book for him to read on the plane. Good idea, huh?

Him too! Peace!

Aiks! Little girl kiasu also, want to read, dun care what that book is.

Meals on board the plane. Everyone was damn hungry as it was way past dinner time.

And we reached 3.5 hours later, weather was just perfect.

At the airport, we encountered taxi tout who charges about RM50 more than the "registered airport taxis". Banker was busy negotiating with him when suddenly 3 men with the authorities attire came walking in our direction and the tout quickly cabut. We were escorted to the taxi stand to ensure we take the proper taxis to our hotel. That was indeed an eye opener.

Ahh.. reached the hotel at last! Went to bed about midnight.

Next morning's breakfast a few doors away from the hotel. The taukeh was very nice, gave us free radish cake as welcoming gift.

My friend, MY, came in her car and kidnapped us to Snoopy World in Shatin. What an awesome time with the cute little Snoopy and his friends, after we negotiated on the ransom, we were set free to roam out on our own.

Look at his stunned face in the pretty cute world of Snoopy.

He just lurrvsss to drive the wheel. Will his career be something close when he grows up? Taxi? Lorry? NO qua...

The children deserted their mom to take her own picture.

Climbing the ladder up to the top.

The lazy nonchalant Snoopy in busy HK.

We bought a local SIM card and with that receipt, banker managed to bargain a free ride for all in the little boats.

I like these soothing pastel colors to the eyes.

And MY pampered us with cakes of our choice. How nice. Not only that, we were treated to a delicious lunch on her recommendation and bid farewell as not to disrupt her work any longer. Lucky gal, can work from home and enjoy the freedom. This is an example of hard work pays.

We took the MTR and headed to the busy area of Tsim Sha Tsui.

He sure is a willing model for my camera. I enjoyed myself snapping his pictures so much.

The 3 of them were begging to go back to hotel by then. All the walking, jumping, crawling, hopping exhausted them completely. We couldn't decide where to go or what the next plan is, and we bribed them with snacks and tidbits while kept them walking until we reach the pier area. And there's where they found the energy miraculously to run around again. Children!

Downsides of vacation.

Piles of laundry, close to 1 week of 5 pax, it's headache just by looking at it. And after the laundry's done, there's ironing to do.. waaahhhh.... jiu ming ah...

And apart from that, the whole home needs cleaning and scrubbing from top till toe. Had we been away THAT long?

Some more, the fridge is empty. Need to stock up la, pack pack la.. whew.. I'm refraining from vacations for awhile.

Anyone can lend me a maid to use?

Apart from all the chores, there are hungry stomachs to fill and the need to rehydrate and "cooldown" of body temperature, as during vacation, water consumption was definitely less than normal days and mealtimes were lacking of vegetables and fruits too.

So, busy busy busy....

Today's dinner.. with grilled honey chicken wings and double boiled old cucumber soup with black chicken. The kids sure made me happy by finishing up their dinner in no time.





I shouldn't be complaining, right?

Shark encounter

Will this do for our family portrait?

Parent teacher meeting and a sale.

It's a very good practice to hold a parent teacher meeting for preschoolers. After paying more than what could be for a tertiary education, it's only quite an expectation from the parents that they provide more than just a daily half a day of playtime.

Reviews from the teachers of both are overall good. I do feel very proud to hear them praising of how smart they are (though I wonder if they say the same things to every parent?!).

For little A, his behavior has improved since the last meeting with his teacher. Boy! Imagine my sense of anxiety when she asked if I would consider letting him see a child psychologist. He is still very active and playful, but at least he's not creating trouble when not provoked. He could be quite violent when he's too carried away though, and the teacher had to separate him from others to calm him down. Anything to worry about, seriously?

I feel happy to hear that he does initiate to do things and think of solutions when he runs into obstacles. Academically, he's showing good progress though he seems to be not paying attention when the teacher is talking. I guess apart from this complaint, the other complaint is that he makes a lot of hissing sound which annoys the teacher... Haiz..where is the hole to hide my face when I need it ah...

As for the little girl, her teacher reports that she shows a big improvement in these 6 months. But there wasn't anything the teacher wasn't satisfied with her. I was told she's very happy in school from the first day, there's wasn't a day she had shown anger or temper, even though her friends might have annoy her in any way. That's funny, right? When she doesn't behave like this at home. Kids sure love to give their mom a tough time.

After lingering in the school for the morning, we went to MVM, first for groceries shopping, then for hi tea in Boulevard Hotel. I was there for some food testing for the sake of my high school friends gathering in Dec. Food was average, but the ambience is really comfortable. We were very leisurely eating and letting the children run loose around.

And what do you know? Metrojaya had a "Branded Sale" in the exhibition halls in MVM, it was pasar malam styled and very tempting to part with our money for the things on sale there. If it wasn't for the children tagging along, we would have spent more time shopping in there, at least I would. We bought home a purse and wallet (his and mine), a bag (another one again!), a voracious looking dragon and its slayer (Little A succeeded in begging his papa), a helicopter (for banker though he insists it's for the kids), 2 little T's for the girl and a mattress protector, all for the price of 300+. Happy happy.

We reached home at 6, out from morning breakfast and at 7, we went out again for dinner at Cheras, claypot chicken rice. I knew the kids were very tired as they had skipped afternoon naps and walked the whole day, and before they get cranky, they should be fed and tugged to beds as soon as possible.

After which, though sleepy and tired myself, I can't help putting on a dvd for Sat night movie, "Journey to the Center of the Earth". It was really a fake movie, but let's not question it's logic and that would be quite a fun watch. Nowadays, I rate a movie by seeing if I had fallen asleep halfway. At least this one got my attention from beginning till end.

I was so awake that I put on another movie, "Superhero Movie". Movie marathon, eh? This is indeed a nonsensical imitation of "Spiderman". I can't keep my eyes opened by 1am and had to be continued by the next day.

The day made me so tired that we stayed home after breakfast today and slept through the afternoon. It was a very hot day to be out too.

End of reporting (qiu! Like anyone cares!)

Downgraded.

*Sob* It's a tearful farewell today (almost!), but the tears flowed in my heart. It's finally the day I have to let her go. Eh, choi! She's going back to hometown only, like bidding the last farewell meh?

My mom stayed with me for close to 2 years now. Since coming home from overseas (yeah, I was the wife of ex-expat too, wokay?), I had been quite fortunate, I must say. My hubby didn't encourage me to work a 9 to 5 job but stress that I should at least try to work on something.

As I couldn't compromise on leaving the still-young children with my maid, we invited her to stay with us, offering her a job of "Domestic Manageress". I'm the Domestic Director.

Since then, we had lots of freedom too, sneaking time away for clubbing at times, knowing the children are safe and comfortable at home. Sure there were arguments at times too, but we would make it up to her with bribes of durians and pizzas.

As the domestic worker left in May this year, she had insisted to take on her role as well, thus, I was very pampered, till now, that is. We had planned since some time ago for her to go back home, as my poor dad does feel lonely, and I feel bad to have kidnapped his only companion away. And this day finally came, and it's much harder than I thought.

Well, that's ok, I'm consoled to think we would still be going back to see her while she could come over once in awhile to stay with us. Moreover, there are just so many "activities" I have in mind to have with my kids.

For now, right after sending her to the bus station, we came back, and we did the routine. Right after, I "undo" the things she did.. hehe.. for sometime, some of the arrangement in the house is not the way I wanted, but I had kept an eye closed, to avoid any unnecessary "incidents". I'm so happy to be seeing the soft drapes covering the living room window instead of always "tied" up in a bundle all the time. Yeah, these are the minor stuffs that makes me happy.

Now, I would also be back to cooking more for the family. Can't be eating out all the time, right? No money.

So, tonight's dinner is a big bang. Ta-da... showing to you our dinner for tonight..

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Didn't I say I fry the best telor goreng in town? Looks good leh? Salivating yet? And those little kukujiaos are not the usual ones, it's filled with cheese, goreng-ed to perfection. *slurp*

OK, it might not be so impressive, but I just want to take it easy and start off with something simpler..

And here's the rest of the dinner...

Bon appetit!