Landed yesterday, back to work today. The girl was so reluctant to have the eldest SIL go that she cried. Apparently, she didn't miss us that much. I told the hubs, she didn't have time to. She did ask me why didn't I bring back baby no. 2 though. Ya, like it's so easy.

The hubs and I celebrated our 10th year anniversary on this trip. We went Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge and Rotterdam. I must remind myself when I plan our future itineraries, to allocate more time in between. The hubs with his knee problem and I, with my back, cannot walk as much as we used to anymore. We need to take more breaks when his knee start to ache and my lower back, inflamed. I've joked that we may need to get 1 walking stick for him which doubles up as a stool when I have to sit. This may well become reality.

Thankful for the business class upgrade, I can still work today. When I got home yesterday, I put the girl's laundry to wash, did a bit of unpacking and more today while the hubs rested a bit, as usual, before he went to buy dinner for us.

Routine starts today, again.....thankful once again, for the short week! Hurray!

Just as I said that we won't be travelling as much this year, I had another business trip to make to the HQ at Norway. We still won't be travelling as much as last year though. Since the business trip was only going to be for 2 pathetic days, pathetic because you travel 30 hours in total for a 48 hour trip, I planned for a short vacation with the hubs at the stop-over station, Amsterdam.

The boss and I met at the check-in counter last Saturday night and although we sat on the same row, we were along the aisles separated by 2 other passengers in the centre block. Thankfully I had been so busy the whole of Saturday that I could sleep a little on the flight. 

While we arrived in Bergen, Norway, our bags did not. Our initial thought was perhaps due to the tight connection so we were not overly worried. Then we proceeded to an ex-colleague's home for lunch. He was previously our MOO (Manager Overseas office) and he prepared a good spread for us. Typical Norwegian spread, I suppose? 

After spending a few good hours at his home, the boss and I cabbed to the hotel. We decided to go to the mini-market to pick up some toiletries which was very limited and I only ended up being able to get cleansing tissues and cotton pads, which I ended up having no use for. Eventually, our bags did not arrive. And the shops do not open on Sundays!

So we arrived in the office, Monday morning in our Saturday wear. We had to explain to all the other overseas HR colleagues who were staying at the same hotel as us why we were dressed the way we were. Me in my Puma track pants, Mickey top and Adidas sneakers while the boss in her jeans and walking shoes. 

After the Monday's meeting, the whole bunch of us had dinner at the mountain before we headed back to the hotel. And because our bags decided to take a vacation from us, we had to rush to the shops and at that point in time, we were left with a grand 1/2 hour to shop because the shops close early. It is no fun to shop under that sort of pressure and the pressure that you need to buy something. We literally only had the clothes on our back! 

Day 2, still no sign of bags and after the meeting, I headed to the airport with 3 Dutch colleagues while the boss stayed on 1 more day. I caught up with the hubs at Schipol airport with just my sling bag and a H&M plastic bag. I was joking that immigration may think that I am a asylum seeker!

I never saw my bag throughout my holiday and had to spend time to shop for clothes and toiletries. It was never my intention to do any shopping other than souvenirs for this trip. But having said that, the hubs and I did enjoy time spent together. The girl did not want to join us and we are thankful that Ivy volunteered to stay over. The girl had a lot of fun too with Bev and the eldest brother dropping by on separate days to surprise her. She also went over to their home over the weekend.

I was eventually upgraded to business class on the return flight and never had the experience of sleeping for 7 hours straight on flight before. It was good and I do not think I will have the opportunity to travel business again. Lol. The hubs stayed in economy. 

At arrival in Changi, I didn't see my bag at the conveyor belt and went to the Lost & Found to make a report. Somehow, a staff brought my luggage over to me. Hiaz...such a rebel it was. Reuniting with me after going on it's own vacay.

And so, I left for my trip with 1 bag and returned with 2. Hey, I am not going to be carrying plastic bags around for the rest of my holiday. Besides, the airline has given their word that they will compensate us for what we have spent during the delay of our suitcase.

A tale to tell? Definitely!

And so M joined my family and the eldest brother together with his wife on our road-trip to Melaka this time, for the first time. Since we didn't have the usual National Day family gathering this year, the way to escape it was to go away for a short trip.

We left the house before 8am on Thursday, the day after watching the live telecast celebration on tv and dinner with Jeremy's family. The hubs rented a mpv which was rather comfy because the mechanic advised against taking the long drive up north with ours. 

As usual, we stayed at the usual peranakan boutique hotel, ate and shopped. It was just a 3 day short trip but was refreshing nonetheless. 

     

We will probably not travel as much this year compared to last. And honestly, the travel bug this year is not biting as much.

Happy National Day all!

This year, we had a smaller gathering at home. Ivy's sister, who lives in the US is back again. Because of the emotional outburst from Jerry, our family is once again disjointed. :( So, I only invited Jeremy and his family as well as the eldest SIL's sis for National Day dinner at home. And I must say, it is so much easier to handle! But of course nothing beats family togetherness.

The hubs made curry with pork belly while I fried up a dish of veg and then we have a pre-packed Imperial Chicken dish. The hubs bought vinegar pork trotters that the 2 sisters love and I made jelly for dessert. So much food to go around.

I did not call my 2 other brothers because we were to have a road trip up to Melaka again! This time we travel the day after National Day with M joining us and the eldest brother and his wife.

The hubs left work earlier yesterday to bring the girl for her review at the hospital. Although cleared of scarlet fever, the Dr has asked us to monitor for the next month and a half because scarlet fever may have effects. We pray that the girl is completely clear. 

However, the Dr found out another issue! She asked if the girl snores in her sleep and told the hubs that she slight inflamed tonsils. We hope that it's the fever and heatiness that caused the inflammation but on hindsight, the girl has been snoring in her sleep for quite a while already. The Dr has prescribed a nasal decongestant which contains steroids, which I am not too keen on but what to do. Let's see what happens after use, which will probably be a month or so. 

Yesterday morning, the 3 of us went for prata breakfast and the hubs allowed the girl to cycle to the shop, which delighted her. She was so happy to have me see her pedal up a small slope because I am usually at home cooking while the hubs brings her down for her cycles. And she is so happy with her achievement. But she does look so cute in the helmet which matches her red bicycle.

We went to the CC next, with the intention to pay for her next session of ballet class but was told it is locked. And on our way back, we witnessed a rehearsal for the National Day Observation day for our constituency. A uniform group from a secondary school was doing the drills and a band was playing. It was quite an experience for the girl but then again, at 5, almost anything is an experience for her. :)

If we wake up early enough on National Day itself, we may just go down to be part of the ceremony.

The hubs then attended a wedding lunch while the girl and I was home. We tidied up her room because the baby NIL who came last Sunday, messed up and literally drooled on her toys. And then I also moved the ant bait we bought to another part of the kitchen.

Even if my kitchen top was clean, I've been seeing ants gather again. They just appear out of nowhere! Finally when I moved the bait and accidentally spilt it, a while later, I saw a gathering of ants around the bait. I hope they bring the bait back home and kill them all! 

In the evening, we attended the 1 month of the Nepalese baby, born to the hubs' cousin. While I packed aside a packet of booties, mittens and socks for the new baby, the girl decided to gift the baby her baby headbands. She had wanted to gift them all until I told her to keep some for my memory sake. Lol.

Thankfully, there's a 2 week break before the girl's ballet class commences again. Some time to our normal free schedule.

The hubs fetched his father from the hospital late last night. Since when do hospitals discharge patients in the evening? The hubs said his father probably insisted and 'made' the Dr discharge him. And so the youngest BIL sent his mother back home too. Although the hubs left after dinner, after 8ish, he didn't reach home till 11ish and apparently, he was waiting for his mother to return home before he left. 

So it's back to normal for all the households today and the group chat between the 3 'out-laws' has also quieten down. Lol....it's good riddance to all.