Middle age crisis?

I want to

- play the piano
- paint
- go for facials
- get massages
- go for manicures and pedicures
- put on make up everyday
- stay in shape
- stay in a foreign country for two months every year

Physical punishment?

What is the most effective way to get our kids to do things right?

1.  Talk nicely and reason
2.  Shout and threaten?
3.  Teach them about consequence?
4. Cane them
5.  None of the above?
6. All of the above?

Which school Mdm?

When you are born in a developing country, raised up in a developed country, and settled down back in a developing country...  What school will you pick for your children?

I have been enrolled in some of the best and prestigious school in Singapore (modesty put aside here), and I find it hard to find a suitable school for my girl who is four this year.

Local school with a long history?

New semi international school?

Or just pack up my bags and move?

17 May 2013

I am lying in bed at 6 am in the morning.  My morning mummy duties are temporarily over with the kids all brushed up up, milked up and washed up. Morning nap time!

It has been almost a year since my last nag.

The kids become me.  It hasn't changed.

My pure happiness is derived from their good health and new developments.

My main concern now is getting Landon to talk properly and making surer Ashlyn is being pushed to her potential academically.  That and her attitude towards studies.

As for something to look forward to? A the moment we have a month long trip to US planned in a month's time and we can't wait!  Wish us luck.

Give me what I want

I remember posting this in Twitter "I don't ask for much. So give me what I ask for" Seriously. I just want the kids to be healthy. Thank you God.

Do you believe in fate?

6 months ago, one of my nanny left to get married. I had been calling about 5 agencies on a daily basis to get a replacement and ended up taking care of my 2 year old by myself for half a year. Finally, the other nanny finished her contract and I had to get a part time nanny to come in and take care of my boy while I take care of my girl and work part time. Then, my part time nanny got pregnant and I panicked full time. I kept reminding myself a lot of mothers out there take care of their children, clean up their houses and do grocery shopping, all by themselves. I can manage. Well, apparently not. Yes, I may manage. But I may not enjoy my kids that much... I tend to scream at them more. And I got sick more. And I no longer meet up with my friends. I was officially a hag. And of course, my partner felt that he suffered most when he had to spend his Sundays taking of the kids. So, I grabbed the first two nannies I was offered and made do. Then.. Another offer came. Then, another. My gosh! What happened? Where did they all come from suddenly? It was like a downpour after s drought. Even my very first nanny came knocking at my door today. Married but husband going out to sea. Wow! What are the chances. I asked J if he would like a third child. Cause I have found our third nanny. He said no. Ok. Now, I am tempted. Should I change one of the newbie for my previous nanny with s proven track record? Anyone with a crystal ball?

Continuity

What? My last entry is about a Korean drama? How pathetic my life was... Hehehehe Well, for continuity's sake, let's stick to the topic of drama. I have not watched a good Korean drama since Secret Garden but had come across "Startling by each step". A Chinese / hk/ Taiwanese production. Good one. Handsome and gorgeous leads help kept my eyes glued to the screen too. That's that.

Secret Garden (Korean drama)

Will it ever be me....

These S. Koreans are so good at making these melodramas that the lead guys always look handsomer than they really are after the show.

I wish I am born a Korean. I want to visit Korea. I want to learn the Korean language.

Their love are always so pure.

4 years, 2 children and several bags later...

yes, I am back.

who? yes, I am still me.

yes, I am jobless now.

What have I become? I have become a mother of two beautiful children. And I have learnt to appreciate what I have.

These two children have become me. My days are considered happy or not depending on how they fare.

No. 1 is always jumping about saying funny things, singing and making everyone in the house laughs... While No. 2 is always smiling and jumping on the bed when he sees me.

This is perfection.

I have never had perfection until that day when I had them.

Thank you ...

It hurts.

lonely planet?

I notice there are more and more "travel & living" genre of show on tv recently. What is actually the purpose of these documentaries? To cater to an increasing number of travellers as flying become cheaper and more accessible? Or conversely, for the potato couch who never actually leave the comfort of their home and venture into the unknown.

Ah, maybe its just light entertainment for insomniacs like me.

lonely planet?

Insomnic serial loving cynic

I have been trouble sleeping the last few weeks. Naps don't work anymore... sigh... I wonder if it had something to do with the late nights I spent watching Cantonese serials. I am so hooked. Not only to one... but I seem to be on the quest for another one and another one and another one after the previous one ends.... I overheard some aunties in the saloon today and discovered that I have covered all the serials that they were watching. Have I just fast forward my life by 10 years? What do I finally do when I hit 40? Walk my cat?

As for the cynic part, I was chided by Anthony twice today for passing out sarcastic negative discouraging and judgemental remarks in a nasty tone every time he tried to tell me his self-inducing problem. It was hard for me to be empathetic recently as I have been hearing his excuses for commiting the same mistake for the last six month. I am never a patient girl to start with.

CL2

We finally have a decent Chinese linguistic school here. I have attended my trial lesson last Tues and am looking forward to my next lesson. Mother in law is teasing me on how long I will persevere as the timing is hunger inducing - 6.30-8.30pm.

I wouldn't have believe it if anyone ever told me 16 years ago that I will go to a Chinese lesson willingly after I hit 30. I wouldn't even do it for free for my favourite Wu Lao Shi then, when she gave us remedials...

tick tock tick tock

I am still waiting for the Samsung mechanic that was supposed to be here at 11am this morning.

This is something that me & J can never get used to, and it never fails to boil our blood after this happen 100 times. These people never keep their appointments and never have the courtesy to give us a call if they 1) will be late, 2) will not be turning up.

This one had the audacity to tell J that his supervisor disallowed him to come?!?!?! what the %#$&^%@!!! When we asked to speak to his supervisor, he said the latter is in a meeting. Finally someone called, remade an appointment and tick tock tick tock, he is already 10 mins late.

I HATE THE TV REPAIRMEN, THE CABLE GUY, THE CURTAIN GUY, THE CAR SALES GIRL, THE CONTRACTOR, THE DESIGNER!!!!

Sense

I love the smell of clean laundry!

Cloudy

J has been in a foul mood since Monday. I think he is overhyped about everything in the shop. Running it, fixing the leak, firing a mechanic, blah blah blah.. but that's work isn't it. At times, I think he sweat the small stuffs unneccesarily. Dilated pupils, heighten toned voice, faster vowels, deep breathing... I told him he is too much of a whiner sometimes.

Maybe everyone is made of different ingredients. He always put his 100% into everything he does (neat, clean, well planned) and burns out quicker than I do. Yeah, yeah, I admit it. I just like to get things done and think while I talk, and do while I think and do while I talk. Ok, ok, I needed more turns to get some things right but I don't freak out that easily.

Look, I had to deal with checking payments, month end closing, saloon, niece & nephews birthday gifts and running to two banks today too. Without these, what do we do with all that time on our hands?!

Day Dreamer

I wanna I wanna

eat vietnamses egg noodles in San Francisco!

walk along the streets of Las Vegas at night!

eat Pho in San Jose!

Bai Kut Fan in L.A.

Catch a movie in Universal Studio in L.A.

shop in Macy's along Union Sq.

Walk along Ocean Beach

For the last 203 days,

It has been so long that it took me 6 tries and 20 mins to get in here.

Actually, it took a broken tv to get me here.

Our one year old tv suddenly contracted cancer and there is a permanent black strip on the LCD screen now. tsk tsk tsk. J was stressed out cause he use it to wind down after a hard day's work and today, he really needed it. Well, well, it was a blessing in disguise as we talked and looked at each other more than usual tonight. And we drove out to get a chocolate sundae to kill some time. He actually asked me out for a drink tonight (ah... thoes good ole days) but we got lazy after dinner and my recent dandraff problem made me err... you know... hee hee hee..

Accomplishments over the last several months? Media successes include:
- Ugly Betty
- 24 (season 1 to 4)
- Queen of Hearts (Korean series)
- Tang Xin Feng Bao / Heart of Greed
- Shanghai Tan (Newest Chinese version)

What else what else....
- Highlight of the year would be J's and M's wedding in April. We attended their Australian reception later that same month. It was held at an old mansion. Beautiful and intimate... surrounded by close friends and immediate family members. A total of 60 guests I think. J brought me to see the Seven Apostles. Several was lost or destroyed by time and nature. There was this one where the "bridge" broke and stranded a couple who was having an affair at other edge. Their pictures were taken with their hands over their faces...

what else what else....
- A trip with niang jia to Jiu Zhai Gou was unforgetable too. It was hard to get mum out on a sightseeing trip. We finally got her to go after Dad promised her the last stop would be Hong Kong. hahahhahah... 2nd bro and wife were left out this time as they had to take care of the kids and house.

what else what else...
- Jacky Cheung concert was great too. The whole family went to watch it and we even brought one of our cousin along. This was the first time all of us went for a holiday together. Hee hee... Squeezy squeezy... but worth it. Actually, mum enjoyed it so much this time that she is still in Singapore this very moment! It was a pitty J can't join us this time and I had to leave after 2 days there. The worst thing was I didn't get to meet Kathy as promised. My long lost first best friend from primary school. Yeap.. I didn't even have time to call her for a chat. The next trip to Singapore wouldn't be much different. 3 days with J and it would be more to accompany him as it has been a while since he took a hoilday.

Even though it will just be a short trip to a close destination, I have already jotted down places to go and food to eat. I know we seldom keep to our plans but just writting and planning them made going double the fun!

yeay!

Insufficient town.

1. Collect repaired bag for mil
2. Buy milk powder for Shir's baby
3. Buy coffee for Shir
4. Buy medication for Uncle Lai
5. Repair watch
6. Bring Cand's camera for repair
7. Collect spareparts for Dad
8. Pay insurance for Ant

As the days go by, as we keep delaying our trip to Singapore, my to-do list keeps getting longer... and only one is my own.

I need to start charging people for this.