How my last day of 2010 has been so far..

Started with a bad throat on FIRE early in the morning 1am, coughing badly from the bad itch whilst I was sleeping. I do think I was spared from this agony for a long time. I guess it's the result of "whatever goes" into my mouth and not controlling the diet. Hadn't eaten fruits for days and drink herbal leong-cha for weeks too. There! Serves me right!

Then early in the morning, I rushed meimei through her breakfast, got ready for orientation day in school and being JUST IN TIME for that!

As I am already a "pro" player in this game, everything looks and sounds familiar to me. Nothing exciting. But still *pretend* to be interested for my little darling, who looks such a big girl to me in her huge uniform. Ooh.. proudly beaming with pride with her, all grown up and ready to take on the world already. She has a friend already with her, lucky for her, the little girl who goes to the same dancing classes.

I busied myself making arrangements for their daily lunch at school, so they could fill up their tummies while waiting for me to fetch them home, so I need not be stuck in the traffic chaos for hours at that too. I think it should be a good plan, other than struggling within myself for not cooking a hearty non-MSG meal for them. Well, let's see how it goes..

With the holidays chart for the whole year throughout 2011 and the paid co-curriculars in school list, I planned on how their daily schedule would be. It's gonna be good, in fact, it looks GREAT!

We spent the afternoon at home, and well, we shall see where we end of having a new year's eve dinner, toasting to another great year ahead. Hello 2011!

Quarantined in their room.

The fridge was practically empty when I came back from the week's holiday. Just some meat left, enough to stuff us for 2 days. I took the kids out for a wet market run this morning, after breakfast of chicken rice for kor and loe shue fun with fishballs for the other 2. Everytime we go out to eat, kor always asks for chicken rice, whatever time of the day is. That's how he loves that dish!

In the car, these 3 annoys the hell out of me. I just can't understand why they just lurvvvv to do that all the time. It must be something to do with the confined little space? Failing to shut them up, I told them when we get home, the 3 of them have to stay in their room and learn to love and play with each other. The more they disturb each other, the longer the quarantine would be.

And I meant my word.

They went inside the room obediently and started to find things to occupy themselves. Meimei and didi were STILL fighting their heads off, and she came running to me crying... I told her to just go back inside the room and settle whatever dispute there is themselves. She hit me on my leg and I was so furious mad. 1 for 1.

So she went back inside crying and shouting at didi more. I reminded them that the longer they take to love and play with each other, the more time they are going to stay inside. Possibly whole day!

I went about doing my daily chores, preparing the soup for tonight's dinner, sorting out the few bags of groceries. Soon, I could hear the 3 of them playing a game. When I went to check them out, they were on the bed playing UNO happily. Well well well!!!! THIS should be done more regularly, like daily, isn't that so? No computer, TV or whatever games they play by their ownselves. Back to the basics.

When the 1 hour was up, they came running out again, excitedly switch on the computer and TV. Sigh! I thought they were just beginning to enjoy themselves? In the future, I would just use any excuse there are to just repeat this whole quarantine exercise!

Spending a weekend at HK.

I requested to drop by at HK to visit my good buddy, Mun Yee *hi* and my obliged hub granted my wish. That's also because he checked all the airlines and find out the fees were all almost the same.

But as our elope plans was made rather last minute, many hotels in HK were fully booked. If there were any vacancies, the rate was bloody sky high. Lucky MY let us use her place for us to bunk in. That's what good friends are for - to be made use of. *grin*

The flight was so unusually peaceful for me - no whines, no mommy mommy, no fights, no toilet runs. I was practically enjoying myself walking at KLIA, eating at the lounge, making my way leisurely to the gate, sauntering to the nice plane, browsing its catalogue, watching movie... oh, talking about movies. I chose "Charlie St Cloud" while hub watched "Going the distance". Here me, sad all over while hub was laughing his head off silly. Wrong choice! Must remember next time choose a happy happy movie to watch. Dang!

My tummy was giving me some problems halfway through though and my head seemed to be spinning slightly. I had no appetite to down the food served on board, and quickly swallowed 2 pills of panadol. By the time we arrived, I was feeling much better.

Weather was just perfect! I love it the moment I stepped out into HK air. We could easily locate the bus my friend told me to take and in no time, we were on the way to her place. She was there waiting for us with her hub. It felt so nice to see her again.

We went to have some food and my appetite was back again. Yum yum! The beginning was just about to be so good. I was sure I would easily gain some weight these weeks but I wanted to eat as well! Don't care! Eat first, diet later. The food was really good.

We knocked out at about 1am that day. And awakened by about 8am.

MY took us to have dimsum for breakfast, another nice episode of delicious food. I was just enjoying myself eating and eating. And of course, chatting with her. After dimsum, we walked around the mall, sourcing for some CNY food for my mil, and then back to her home.

In the afternoon, we headed to Sai Kung, after another hearty teatime at one of the eateries around. Sai Kung has many little islets nearby and we took a ferry ride to one of them.
On the way, I felt my tummy acting up again and I was getting worried something wrong is broiling. When I reached there, I went to the toilets straight away and tried to push some poo out. But the cool weather was chilling my ass and I just couldn't do it! It was so frustrating. What got out was just some gas. But it was enough to pacify my tummy for the moment, and I thought, what the heck, que sera sera.

We walked around in a leisure pace, checking the beach out, taking pictures, just chilling away. And caught the last boat at 5pm to take us back to the pier.

Polo bun, anyone?

You can tell I was holding some "tension" in that time.

At the pier, sights of the fish market enthralled me! It was so colorful, lively, different, and noisy! I was drinking in the sights and just enjoyed myself snapping lots of photos. It is a very interesting setting for photographers and visitors indeed. I just love that place! I had to thank my friend for bringing us there. It was just the kind of uniqueness of locals and cultures I like to see.
As the sun was setting in, we walked to the Seafood Food Street and looked at each eateries there. It was very competitive, as we walked along, everyone of them was cajoling us to step in and sit down at their tables. By the time we were at the near end, we thought it would be very late, but surprised to find the time, was only about 6+. Winter seasons, night comes real early. Don't I know that already? But just can't help forgetting about that fact.

We had a very hearty delicious dinner package of abalone, scallop, crab, lailiew prawns, lobsters and a fish which was a treat by MY's younger son. He's such a sweet guy, generously agreed to spend 100 bucks from his savings to belanja us. *smile* and.. *BURP* Dinner was AWESOME!

We came back home to retire for the night, taking turns to take our shower and sorting out our luggage to prepare for early departure to the airport again.

But that night, my tummy was piercing me with a sharp pain and I knew I had to really pass some poo. I remembered it had been a few days since the last time and the tummy can't take it anymore. I spent hours inside the loo while others were asleep, until about 2 am, I think. It was really bad. My tummy was still very in pain even though I feel that there was nothing I could push out anymore. I hugged my knees and forced myself to sleep after that. Eventually I did, I think I was too exhausted already.

Had to wake up by 6.30 to get ready for the airport and I was feeling much better. On the way in the bus, the pain seemed to return on and off, bit by bit. I could still hold it in and later, felt recovered completely after having some McD for breakfast. *whew* What a scary episode for me!

And it was another destination to look forward to!

Flying off without the kids.

I always remember that day I went to Ipoh airport with my parents and took some family pictures before bidding farewell to them, then being whisked off to my tai-pak's home with my brothers for roughly a week while my parents had a goody nice time in HK. I was missing them so very hard and the days dragged by very badly for me. I cried for days and felt very very miserable.

When I was finally driven back to our own home in Menglembu, the first thing I saw was a big teddy bear seated on the floor of our living room facing the entrance. My eyes lit up big and asked who that was for, never daring to think for a moment it's mine. The grin on my face grew ear to ear when I was told it was for me, hardly believing the news. I can't forget that moment. All is forgiven, even though I still can't forget how miserable I was.

So. Now that I am a mom myself, do I want to repeat that awful experience to my kids?

Hell, I really do not wish to. Believe me.

Then again, my mil offers to help me babysit the kids for the longest time and encourages us to go and have a break, just me and my hub. I brushed it aside.

Her sister also said the same thing while we were in Singapore.

One day not long ago, he told me he needed to go to Taiwan for business trip. I jokingly said I wanna go too. He treated it for real. He wanted me to join him. My mom wanted the kids to stay a few days with her and my dad. Practically everyone was telling me to go! What's wrong with them??

Of course, the kids didn't like the idea. Especially meimei. I told them that this is for them and their grandparents. (partially true, I would say, not entirely for myself, really) I convinced them that they are very fortunate and very lucky to have all 4 grandparents still around, to love them and pamper them, and they should, really, ought to, spend some time alone with them whilst they are still around, alive and kicking. Do I manage to convince them? I think so.

As the time came near, I was the one who felt taking every step was darn heavy. I didn't want to pack, I didn't have the mood to leave. Really first time for me to be so unwilling going for a holiday.

The plan was without flaws. My inlaws who spent the night in Genting, were to come over to KL to pick the kids up, then they drive us to KL Sentral and then my bil drives them all home. Then after a night's stay at their home, my dad would take them 3 to their home for another 3 nights. Then back to their home again before we come back for the weekend to bring them to Bkt Merah and eventually home.

It was all running smoothly and perfectly. Except when the time came for us to leave the house, meimei came over and hug me, all teary-eyed. Poor little girl. I was so mm-seh-tuck.

While my bil took us to Kl Sentral, I pulled them along with us and meimei sobbed even more while never letting me go, hugging me tightly. It was so heartbreaking for me. I felt guilty to the max!

Well, then we said bye, blew flying kisses and took off anyhow. Though I miss them terribly, I know they were in good hands, entertained and pampered by my parents and his parents, at least slightly better than my own experience when I was in their shoes.

Seriously, I was very worried some awful accidents would take place and that would be the last time I see anyone of them. But I also know it's too extreme negativity thinking. Eventually, I let down my hair and yes, I enjoyed myself for those few days. I need to talk to them at least once a day though and it was enough for me.

See you in 2011.

Last week of the holidays. Too fast.

And I think I still have the eye bags, if not worse. Sleeping past 7am will be surely missed the most, for me, at least. I think I need to really work on my old resolution to sleep before 11pm when school starts. That's one of the new year resolution I have. Keeping them is another thing.

For the past 2 weeks, I had been having a good time, yeah, generally, a good time. And with so many pictures to show off, I am keeping myself busy choosing those pics and editing them. Just so you know, I shrink them up so it's way easier to upload and download for my readers. So there, you know how nice I treat you all.

In the interim, I need to ensure the kids are prepped up for school, which is starting in less than a week's time now.

• schoolbags - checked
• uniforms - still need to be ironed out
• stationery - aiks! have to get them done, shouldn't be too tough,
  
• books - aiks! didi's set of books still not wrapped,
  
• shoes and socks - all lined up well on the rack, but where did one of didi's shoes ran off to??
  

I am also psyching myself to work out a weekly schedule for them to follow through. *ask self * do you think it will work?

Hope 2011 will be as good as 2010, if not better. Let's celebrate anyway. *pop champagne*

Happy New Year, folks.

A very special weekend getaway

Cool air, good food, good service, most importantly, good company. All these enough to maketh a very memorable and enjoyable time.


That morning, there was a little hiccup though as I was pretty stressed with getting my 4 kids out from the house. The eldest one couldn't understand why I was so stressed till I told him the reason why. After letting it out, I could immediately sense a heavy burden off my shoulders and so much lighter. I told him I just let him decide what he wanna do. In the end, we still couldn't make it to meet my friend and her family at the stipulated time, but that was quite a blessing in disguise, really.

Don't understand what I was babbling about? See, as the road up from Gap to Fraser's Hill is closed for 1-way direction for odd and even hours, we wanted to be there in time before 11.30 so as not to wait for it to be open again to go up at 1. So, the timing must be right.

But it turned out to be better like this in the end, as the road is VERY windy and narrow from a certain distance which totally make us all feel carsick for about 30 mins before we reach Gap. I didn't know that at all, even though I went to Fraser's Hill about more than 10 years ago.

That time it was a sales meeting with my colleagues, but in actual fact, it was a makan/free stay we wanna take advantage of from the company. It was a great time with those crazy people.

The kids didn't look very good on the way up from the dam, but fortunately noone throw up even though they told me they felt like it. We reached the gate at about 12 and the 1 hour rest was good to settle back their tummies. I felt so relieved.

Fighting during the rest time made them forget about their carsickness already.

We made a toilet stop and had a look around their stalls. Not too bad, in fact looked kinda quaint, don't you think?
When we finally reached up the bungalow we were putting up the night in, we were immensely surprised and pleased with the beautiful country cottage/ bungalow. It is such a nice home. I was very excited when I saw it from the gate.

The place is booked by my bestie's bro-in-law, who worked in this company who owns the place and rents it out to their staff ONLY for recreation and relaxation purposes. The 2 houses is linked by the caretakers' quarters who stays there to clean and maintain the place, and to serve and cook for the staff who stays there, like US for that weekend.

So shiok! No need to cook or lift a finger, we were served lunch, tea, dinner, breakfast and lunch again for our 2d1 night stay. The food was very good! We were stuffed to the brim!

Exploring outside the house, it is surrounded by colorful and blooming flowers all over the place. I feel so happy just seeing these flowers. How powerful flowers can be to the mood. Such a beautiful moment to savor.



Just like a country home. It was such a wonderful and different experience for me. Later, we took the kids to the playground near to the town center. Do I need to say how happy they were? With 5 kids to play with, they were ecstatic! Though it came with little quarrels here and there, as always, don't they?


What a great company it was! Her hub, her dad, her sis and bro-in-law, all are so warm and friendly. I had known them for a long time as well, it's the first time I went somewhere with them.

Didi was so excited to conquer this monkey bar, climbing up the high pole and swung from one end to the other, then slip down by the other pole. He did it over and over and over for countless number of times.

Then kor seeing his brother so happy and proud of his achievement, he too followed. We thought all these exercise should be enough to drown their energy level and drop dead tired after dinner.

Lalalilitattampung! Ahh.. just like kampung kids. I love the moments absolutely.

Love this shot.
After a dinner of delicious roast lamb with red wine accompaniment, we snuggled around watching Skyline and warmed by the fireplace. Isn't it very pleasant? I am sure you don't need to be there, imagine also can feel it so gooood, eh?

My bestie, a moment of contentment with her child. He's a sweet adorable kid.

The next morning, we were late to go for a hiking trail as, well, as always, lazed around in the comfy bed for too long. After a very good breakfast of braised yeemee and fried bihun, (2 servings!!) we took the kids to horse riding and archery.

4 bucks for a pathetic small round for child. If 2 kids wanna ride at the same time, it's 8 bucks, but also for 1 round. While the adults are bargaining, koong-koong bought a ticket himself already! *grin* We all laughed when he said "you guys man-man keep on bargaining, I wanna ride the horse liao"
Didi can't decide to go or not but after some coaxing, he went ahead and said the ride was moderate fun and bumpy.

Meanwhile, meimei kept nagging me or her dad to accompany her but both of us kiamsiap, kept insisting NO. In the end, she relented and went ahead to ride on her own. So cute.

Ahh.. another moment of contentment for my friend. SO happy for her.

I wanna play archery, mainly for the purpose to take some cool pics. Don't ask about the score. Blame it on the need to close the left eye. I CAN ONLY CLOSE THE RIGHT EYE!! Damn!

And that concludes a very wonderful and memorable time with my friend. We all wanted to go again, with the same company! That time, we want to stay 2 nights, take the kids to hiking trails and open gambling den! Can't wait for that. Love life! Bless them.

Recruited a new member

Nice to get back in touch with someone I knew more than 15 years ago. Jeez.. that sounds so "long ago".. but yes, it's nice.

Let me intro you to her... she's a very sweet and pretty lass who married a housemate of mine when I was in Penang. Hi, Juju *wave*...

Things we did in Singapore

This time, I didn't intend to bring them to theme parks or man-made entertainment places just for the kids' amusement, other than the dinosaur show.

Seeing them very rarely out in the open running about, playing catch or ball, or just walking, I wanted them to explore the outdoors and feel the air, feel the freedom, feel the wonderful nature we have. *arms opening up, eyes looking up, deep breathing...*

Too much of computer games, Wii games, iPhone games, I learned that all these have bad effects and create lots of social issues to children of our time. They do not know how to communicate with other children, play with them, talk to adults with good manners and ... you know any others? And I certainly can't deny that it's showing on them. I have indeed feel the pinch.

Regretted that I introduced all these games to them and got them addicted. Initially I thought I can control them but all they ever think about all day is when they get to play these games. Then again, their dad doesn't seem to think that it's a problem. Men! As insensitive as usual.

So....

This time, I had surveyed some parks and gardens I would like to bring them to explore in Singapore before we departed. I am amazed and always like to follow my friend, Mun Yee, footsteps to take her kids to walk for long trails in HK or whenever they go for vacations. Her boys can really walk! I am so so amazed. I wondered if my kids would be able to do that. Maybe yes, BUT with complaints ALL THE WAY! Not good, not good at all.

Shortlisted a few trails I planned to take the kids to, among those are the Southern Ridges and East Coast Park.

The Southern Ridges has about 6 sections from one end to the other, so I wasn't very ambitious and asked for recommendations from friends. Was told that the Henderson Walk and the Canopy Walk are good. So okay, here we go.

We reached Singapore very late at night on Thursday, so we just practically dropped our bags and went off to bed right after we arrived. The number of beds are just nice. Each one has a bed to sleep on.

Early next morning on the Friday, JM woke us all up and shoo-ed us to the pool. Really need to thank her for getting our lazy bums away from the bed for those 3 days, else we would have wasted all the glorious mornings for nothing.

We spent the time at the pool while I continued lazing around on the lazy chair. The rest of the day just whizzed by with lunch, dino show, and a very Very Vvvvvery awesome dinner treat by my hub's sis' hub. We gained a few couple of kilos from just that night alone, I think. And we (JM and I) were even MORE determined to walk the talk.

So.

Early next morning again, the koon-kar-poh knocked on our doors and yelled on top of her voice "WAKE UP, WAKE UP!!!" How I wished I could throw the pillow at her face then! But of course, I just grumpily got off from the bed and get the kids changed. We decided to head to Henderson Waves.



Yay! Henderson Waves, finally we were here!

The trail from the carpark.

Henderson Waves elevated from the highway. So high up that kor ALWAYS make sure he walks in the middle pathway. This boy, really scared of height. There! Now you know his greatest fear of all.

Meimei performing some stunts, following her dad's comical acts.

And 5 mins later, we reached the road which leads to Mt Faber cable car station. Aiks! Not even half an hour walk? And moreover, we fooled around, camwhored around, rested our legs every few steps, how la??

JM ditched us at that point to continue her high powered day of activities with her friends. We turned back to where we came from and went the other side of the trail to Hilltop Walk. It began to drizzle a little before embarking on the steps, and hub asked me to decide, go up or back. I replied UP, and UP we went!

Here we are. Overlooking the view. It was very peaceful and nice.

(A bag from the US. Love it!)

And that was our first walk, so to say. Not very impressive, but we shall make it better.

Then of course, I had mentioned earlier of the walk I took on my own from Esplanade to the Raffles MRT overlooking the Marina Bay.

Damn the darn drizzle!

The next early morning again, just like the alarm clock, very punctually and reliably, came knocking on our doors again. ARGHH!!! (But of course, I am ever so grateful for that, my dear friend)

This time, we just went out and about nearby her home. It was a nice walk around Keppel Island in the cool and crisp morning.

Partly didi had been nagging JM to go to the playground since he arrived.

Again, camwhoring is part of the game.

The kaki pose - on purpose one, ok? Like this, look more like going exercise.


Reflections. Will be another icon of Singapore later.

A vast green field for the kids to run around and play catch. I really loved watching them run and play. Beats staying home and play those devices games anytime.

There, I got to know of a game the kids play these days. It's called Ice Fire. 3 of them. 1 is the catcher. The other 2 run and when the catcher catches 1, he/she needs to freeze. The other runner is allowed to unfreeze him/her. So, didi played the catcher and he ALWAYS, freeze meimei. And meimei just stood there waiting for kor to come and rescue her. Then, we just laughed our heads off watching how these 2 boys run, 1 following the other closely. It was so so cute. When kor finally unfreeze meimei, didi immediately freeze her up again! Haha!! Meimei had no chance to run at all. Damn funny watching them play.

After running out of breath and sweating all over, we went back to the condo's compound and played at the basketball court and the playground.

And that was Sunday. We went to a market for breakfast right after and then went home to clean up. I stayed home with JM to babysit the kids, together with my sil's toddler while she went for kick-table-legs with her hub for the first time since they have their child, and the other 3 adults went to Chinatown to stock up food for CNY. *rub hands, lick lips ...*

After forcing the kids to an afternoon quick and power nap later, we set off to another crowded spot. Marina Barrage to fly kite. What can I say, it was such a fantastic time for the kids and for myself. I just love the open air and the cozy wind on my face.

We went to Orchard Road for dinner followed by a walk on the road itself to admire the colorful christmas decor. But I wonder if the kids were too tired or just not appreciative, they didn't think it's anything to shout about. Frankly though, I myself do feel the decor had slacked from the way they did it years ago. Or was I too innocent still last time?


The entourage.
Didi looking not very enthusiastic about the surrounding.

The next day, JM went to work and expectedly, without her to move our asses, we slept in and hang around doing nothing all morning. But to be fair, hub did work on something. After all, it was a working day and he was up reading his mails and well, working.

We met his sis and the rest up for dimsum lunch after that and then we stayed at her home ALL afternoon, toddler taking her nap while the rest watched Jurassic Park. Wanted to go to a park in the late afternoon but rain spoilt our plans. What a bummer.

We drove out and ventured into a prawn fishing site. So there we were, ngong kui kui, spent 15 bucks, waiting for the prawns to fall prey.


After a loooooong time, only this prawn got into his hands. 2 other more tiny prawns came into the picture to join this tailoe, and that's it! Sucker!

Feeling deprived and wasted of our time, hub wanted to go somewhere before heading home the next morning. So, we went off and looked for Alexandra Arch, also a section of the Southern Ridges trail.




Alexandra Arch joins the Jungle walk and Hort Park. Jungle walk is a elevated steel walkway joining somewhere from the earlier Hilltop walk which we went to the day before that.


It was a nice day indeed. Too bad we don't have much time to walk leisurely, else it would just be perfect!

And here it's Hort Park, a floral and vegetable and herbs garden. Very educational for kids. We didn't linger around or explore the area, we had to save it for another time. On our way back, hub wanted to stop by at Mt Faber and take a short walk up to the cable car station. It wasn't a very good idea as I had thought, because the kids were nagging to be IN the cable car instead of just looking. See? Men? What do they ever think in their heads?

And this sums up the vacation we had in down south this year. Rather boring, eh?