I guess I shall end here?....I doubt anybody reads my blog anymore......

We are back from our 2 week holiday in Japan! And boy, did we enjoy it.

We took the night flight 2 Mondays ago, the day before the Deepavali holiday, which was also the only day I would meet my boss who came back from her 1 1/2 week business trip in China. She left early that day and I could leave the office earlier too which gave me some time at home to wash up, change and pack my toiletries before we decided to leave for the airport earlier to get dinner. 

We met the eldest brother and the SIL at the check-in counter after hunting for a place to eat but not managing to do so because T1 had gone through so many changes. Thankfully we were able to locate the staff canteen which is still located at the same place as I had remembered.

We had a good flight to Osaka, being able to sleep for few hours. After sorting out some train tickets at the airport, we took the train to Kyoto where we stayed for the next 3 days. From there, we went to Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa back to Osaka and then side trips to Himeiji Castle and Kobe. I reckon that we covered 4 Unesco heritage sites and visited 1 of Japan's most beautiful garden. Weather was good, with it being cold at times but definitely dry. My lip bled and I didn't even know until I applied lip balm and saw blood stains on the tube.

We flew back on the night flight as well and arrived Friday morning. Had light breakfast at the airport before we took a cab home. I made the girl sleep after washing up and the 3 of us napped.

After a late lunch, we took a walk to the girl's primary school to buy school books for primary 1. We didn't have to squeeze with anyone at all. 

Saturday morning, we attended the primary 1 orientation at the school after which we bought her school uniforms as well as a very pretty ergonomic school bag. School stuff is now settled.

Life is back to routine now. 

I think nothing of 'celebrating' Halloween. It is pagan tradition after all and I told the girl that it is just a silly excuse for people to dress up and scare other people. I am glad that at this point, it is not as commercial as how Christmas has become.

However, we received an invite from the mother of the girl's childcare mate for 'trick or treating' at their condo. Since this could be the children's last few gathering occasions AND the girl didn't have art, we accepted the invitation. There are 3 of them in the host's child's 'inner circle'. Haha. And the 4 of them together were such a handful!

We arrived slightly passed the targeted time to meet at the host's home because we decided to wait for a boy and his family who lived near our block. The host lived on the highest floor and has a balcony that overlooks the inside of the estate. It was quite beautiful especially at night and that was where we spent the whole time while the host and another mother brought the 4 kids out and about the estate.

I had brought a pack of marshmallows that fitted the theme completely and could scorn at those other treats I see that the kids received. Lol..theirs were so mediocre. Hahahah...So when we had different groups of children coming up to the unit, I had some fun giving out the treats.

The girl who stays at the condo will be the only one going to another primary school and I reckon this could be her last gathering with her childhood friends. I wonder how much they will miss each other when they leave the childcare centre. At least for K and the rest of her K2 friends, they will still see each other when they move up to primary school. In fact, 2 of her friends are future primary 1 mates!

I am already thinking perhaps to arrange for a Christmas party for the kids. That could be the final final time. I think the hubs will approve.

We rescheduled the girl's HYPY and abacus class on Saturday to go shopping in JB. The eldest SIL joined us and this time, from the time we waited for the bus at our place and reaching the mall in JB, it took us about 4hrs. And we couldn't buy many household items this time round especially without a car. 

However, we did manage to buy 2 pair of white shoes and 2 packs of socks for school. And I also managed to get her some long sleeve tops from H&M, for going out. Now we just need to look out for a school bag for her. This time round, I didn't get anything for myself! Maybe I was already feeling tired after the time we had to take to get there. In fact, I was the only one who didn't get anything except for some toiletries.

We reached home late too. Thankfully, I've asked the SIL if she would like to stay over and so she brought her clothes over. 

After church yesterday, we had a feast of Oktoberfest at the club and the eldest brother, SIL, Bev and her boyfriend came over to our home. My house is like a mini-mini arcade. The hubs and brother played carrom while the 'kids' as what the girl termed themselves played 'Happy family' card game. Lol. When Bev's boyfriend left, she and the girl played air-hockey. The size of the table is great for kids but too small for adults so I'll likely put it up for sale in a couple more years time, especially since the girl doesn't seem so keen in playing with it so much now.

It's now back to work and in 1 week's time, we're off for our vacation! Yay.....

The SIL gave birth a few days before reaching the 35 weeks mark and the baby had to stay in the hospital due to jaundice. When we decided to go by again on Saturday, they were informed that they could bring the girl home as well! 

So we did just that in the late afternoon, bringing along K's baby rocker, high-chair and a bag of stuff for the other SIL's 2 young kids. The SIL went through natural delivery this time, without epidural as she was concerned with her back which she had an operation on just last year. K went to swim with the NIL, together with both the dads. 

And today, we finally went to the primary school that we wanted to transfer to, to get the registration done. We had to go to the school, collect an acceptance letter from them to bring it to the other school which we originally registered for and collect a set of documents that MOE would have already sent them and back to the school that we want to send K to, again. So it was a lot of running around on Tuesday morning and thankfully my boss was ok to let me go into office late, despite me ending up going back just in time for lunch.

We didn't have time to buy the uniforms, besides the girl wasn't with us, or the school books. So we will probably get them on the primary 1 school orientation day. We are stepping into another phase of the girl's 'life'....formal education. May she continue to remain focus and with a soft heart to learn and remember what she's taught.

The girl's art piece from yesterday's art class. I love the starlit night sky.

It's a castle, by the way, if you do not 'see' the drawbridge. Heh..

The girl attended her last ballet class on Saturday. When she asked if it was to be her last, I told her no lest she tells everyone that she is not attending anymore. However, the week before, she did tell the teacher that she would not be continuing...well...

After lessons, we went to a friend's place, an ex-senior schoolmate of mine actually. She wanted to host the Victor's wife's 50th birthday. And there were 4 families there, including the Victors. So the 3 of us families were, I guess, the closest to theirs.

The girl, as usual, played with the rest of the girls and the cute 13 year old deaf cocker spaniel. The host stays in Newton, overlooking Orchard. Wow....amazing.

And yesterday, the eldest brother and SIL came by after church with the intent to discuss our upcoming holiday! Yay...can't wait but the hubs did something to the cables of the tv and then the internet couldn't work. We couldn't do anything and I took a nap. I was angry with his impatient attitude and told him to call the service provider when I woke up. In the end, we received the help we needed and we could all look at youtube travel to our destination but it was too late to complete discussing the itinerary. The hubs....literally puts me at eye roll.

The girl's childcare was closed on Friday, Children's Day. While we initially planned for a day trip to JB with the Victors, the husband had a project meeting last minute and the plan was scrapped. And then there was I scratching my head thinking of where to bring the girl.

At first, I asked our neighbour from Redhill but her daughter was performing at the Early Childhood Development Conference and the girl's ex-childcare mate didn't have to face centre closure so I decided to ask her current childcare mate, who almost always ends up at her previous nanny's. 

After her father sent her over, the 2 girls started playing and entertaining themselves while I made lunch for them. After lunch, I brought the 2 of them to the public section of the ECD event and were they spoilt with activities. It was a lot of fun for them and honestly, it was more fun when they have company rather than if I had brought K on her own. They were fully occupied from the time we arrived and were almost the last to leave. This event however would not be so age appropriate when they reach Primary 2, I reckon. So perhaps, I can still bring the girl for 1 last time if I remember next year.

The hubs met us there when his work ended and we brought the girl's K2 mate along for dinner, meeting her parents at the bus interchange at 8ish. This is the 2nd time the girl's friend has joined us and I daresay she looks forward to such future outings,despite me being fierce. Yes, she said that to K.

Ballet class resumed on Saturday after a 3 week break because the community centre had some events going on. The girl didn't want to attend initially and even told the ballet teacher that she will not be continuing. Although a part of me is sad that she will drop it after a year plus of ballet lessons, I am glad she is firm about it. So at least I know she is not making this decision out of pressure from me or the hubs.

And we had fun with the eldest brother and SIL after church yesterday when we went to Little India. The plan was to head to Mustafa to check if they had musical keyboards for the girl to practice on. So we had lunch and a stroll through Little India where we chanced upon the Indian Heritage Centre, which was surprisingly good! What started out as a visit to the toilet, ended up with us spending about an hour there. We took photos with the available props on display and watched a short video on how the local Indians arrived to Singapore. After that we strolled through Little India some more, had coconut drink and finally ended up with a keyboard purchased from Mustafa.

It's fun being tourists and I feel that is what life is all about. Do not be so familiar with the everyday life until you become so bored but rather always go out with an open mind and heart. You never know what you will come across! :)

Taking advantage of the last Saturday before ballet starts again on the next, we went to visit the youngest SIL, in terms of ranking not age, after lunch. She has been 'resting' at home since her 2nd trimester due to short cervix. I suppose she is being extra cautious this time round, especially since she went through 2 miscarriages and the heartache. Thankfully, she doesn't look worn out and not in total need of bed rest. 

She called the 2nd BIL's family over too and decided to spring an early birthday surprise for her hubs. I helped to buy the cake. When we arrived, thankfully the youngest BIL had gone to fetch the NIL from tuition. After the surprise when we came back, the kids went down for a swim and the 2nd BIL taught the girl the basics, claiming that she should be able to swim after 10 lessons. Looks like we do not need the further expense on swimming lessons but that will mean we need to travel to Yishun more often! 

While the 2 brothers brought the 3 kids down to swim, the 3 SILs caught on with gossip and the children. Lol...what else. We ended up staying for dinner but the 2nd BIL's family went back because the SIL's family were visiting them.

And after church on Sunday, we had the usual lunch with the eldest brother and his wife before proceeding home.

In the evening, we went to IMM to get some superhero t-shirts for the girl's children's day celebration in school. I wasn't at all pleased with the request though. The request in her comm book even stated the type of superheros that the children are 'encouraged' to wear. IMHO, anyone can be a superhero...why must they dictate the exact type for the kids to wear? What if the child does not have a superhero costume, as in the case of K. Isn't it additional expense especially for families who are not able to spend on 'useless' items like this? Thankfully, I saw a sale in the mall and decided to drop by and thankfully found 2 nice 'superhero' t-shirts that K can wear for and after the party.

When the girl was talking to her teacher, the teacher actually told her she is supposed to be in a costume. And when K told the teacher that her mummy has already bought it, the teacher went  'Oh.' I do not know what to say. 

Of course I am thankful for having a centre that I have no worries with while the girl is there but that does not mean I am agreeable to everything about the centre. The girl's K2 mates are already 'discussing' on their graduation celebration. What??!? I thought it only happens at primary 6, after PSLE? 

As much as I do not want the girl to grow up so fast, mature so quickly, I also cannot wait to get out of this childcare centre at times where I cannot moderate whatever the teachers say to them.

The girl's childcare centre celebrated mid-autumn festival on Friday after school hours. The dinner that we had to pay for was quite insufficient. It was sort of pumpkin rice with 2 small chicken drumsticks but it was quite tasty. The girl, probably excited, did not even finish 1/2 her child's portion. 

The children definitely had fun with their friends. The night ended with taking a walk round the estate with lanterns provided by the school. I had brought along K's first lantern when she was not yet 2 but she didn't want to hold it because the LED was getting weak. -_- So she ended up taking the one from school which kept dropping off the stick and ended up not holding it either. 

And over the weekends, it was the hubs' turn to be away on an overnight golf game with friends at Batam, a game that he has not played in a long while I must admit. And since it's mummy, the girl stays home. Lol.

It was the usual HYPY and abacus class on Saturday morning, which I am planning to 'suspend' during the months of November and December so that we can spend more time with the girl and to sort of give her a break before she starts primary 1. 

I made us lunch after picking her up from the centre, which will become her student care centre in a couple of months time and acceded to her request to watch 'Wizard of Oz' on the laptop. During that time, I napped. Heh. But I did get up to tell her the play that she was watching was running too long and we have to continue another time.

We then went to the library to return and borrow some more books. 

And today, we went to church after which we had lunch with the eldest brother only because the SIL was still tired out from the day's event the day earlier. At home, I got the girl to do a craft work which she worked on for almost an hour while I napped. Hahahhaha...

The hubs came back home mid noon and everything is back to normal for us 3. :)

The girl attended her 2nd piano lesson yesterday. She seems to be enjoying it. Let's hope this interest stays for awhile yet.

Earlier in the week, the hubs mentioned that he may get a piano from an acquaintance who was giving it away. At first I was excited but after sharing it with the girl's childcare mate's mum, I think we should just settle for a cheaper and portable keyboard for now. Owning a piano incurs a lot of costs. From transportation and the regular tuning. Not to mention the space required. Getting a keyboard first is also less painful should the girl decide that she does not want to pursue it anymore but of course she needs to learn how to persevere first.

Although we are allowed to sit in during class since it's an individual piano class, the girl seems to be more responsive when we are not there. Fear of answering wrongly? Hiaz.....I think she has been frightened by our scoldings, which, we have noted and are of course trying to make a change.

Piano lessons do not come cheap. So I really hope, for her name's sake, she will be musically wired.

And so the company had a team bonding event organised at Club Med Bintan and all of us snagged a free stay from Friday to Sunday. I had fun the last time I went there many years back with the family owned business. And this time, I had good fun too but didn't get to go on the trapeze as much as I wanted because I arranged for 5 of my colleagues and myself to a spa out of the club premise, which of course was a lot cheaper. So I missed the timing for the trapeze...oh well... :(

Me and my room-mate, a pinoy lady who I'm pretty close to and have lunch with almost everyday took the 1st ferry available to us so that we could arrive at Club Med earlier to check the place out.  We were all split into 3 separate ferry timings.

We managed to slot in a pilates session before gathering with the rest of the company for dinner. 

We had team building activities on Saturday morning and feeling famished at the end of it, went for lunch, showered and off to the spa. It was good being pampered but as much as it was, the aches weren't exactly kneaded away.

And on Saturday night, we boogied the night away. It's been too long since for me, for obvious reasons. 

Overall, we all had good, clean fun. Some of us don't mind future company trips even at the expense of not having anymore budget for the company's annual D&D. Well, let's see.

We have arrived at a decision regarding the girl's request for additional 'enrichment' classes. We will not continue the girl's ballet lessons when this term ends. Her enthusiasm towards ballet is already waning. And I figured, what can she do even if she continues? 

Will she be a ballerina? I think it's a little far-fetched. And even to be a future ballet teacher, you need to be outstanding. Well, as long as her curiosity is fulfilled and now she knows what ballet is all about, I think that should be good enough. Her ballet lessons now stop for a 3 week break and start again next month. So let's see if she misses going for classes during this timely interim. 

As for swimming, we'll start her on lessons proper next year, after she has settled into the primary 1 routine. Let's just enjoy the slower pace, if any, for the next 3 months of the year. We will sign her up for individual piano classes starting this Thursday. Unlike ballet, music and swimming lessons are both life skills. Even if the girl decides not to sit for exams, the skill of notes reading and playing will stay with her. Similar to swimming isn't it? Hopefully, she will hone her piano skills well enough to serve in church in future.

So much to think just for enrichment classes. I wonder how some parents can pile so many on their child's plate. Even if the child is not exhausted, the parent will be. Just like me. The hubs and I are actually looking forward to no more ballet lessons so that we can redeem back the Saturday free time. Lol...

We are usually packed with activities on the weekend but Saturday's was the ultimate.

We had to wake the girl up early because the cancelled HYPY class last Saturday was replaced with 1/2 hour earlier at 9am this Saturday and the next. She gets probably a 20 minute break before she continues with abacus at the enrichment centre which will be her student care next year on. While the hubs hung out with his old classmate after sending the girl for her classes, I get the uninterrupted peace of doing the house chores. I do not complain when there is no one around to disturb me. Lol.

We had lunch at Macdonald's after paying half the payment needed to confirm the girl's slot at the student care. And then it is home for an hour's plus of rest before we head out to ballet. We returned the library books borrowed before that at the mall opposite the CC where the ballet lesson is held.

After ballet, we took off back to Jurong East to attend a trial piano class. We were early by slightly less than an hour so we went to the spectator seats of the ice-skating rink to wait out and watch amateurs ice-skate. 

We had to pay for the trial lesson but it was ok, since it wasn't much and the hubs and I could sit in. Since it was an individual lesson, the girl was able to pick up quite a bit from reading some basic notes and then playing them on the piano. She enjoyed it. I think we will proceed to send her for individual piano lessons. Like swimming, it is a skill that stays with you.

And after church yesterday, we went for lunch at the club to have an early birthday treat for the eldest SIL. I do not want to repeat what a blessing she has been to us but she has. After the heavy meal, because the hubs never fails to over-order, they came over to our place and rested/napped. Once again, the SIL entertained the girl while the rest of us took our glorious naps. Lol. And then we went off again to have dinner with M.

That sums up our busy weekend.

I brought the girl to observe a swimming lesson on Tuesday evening, after our dinner. I had googled and managed to find out that there are lessons on Tuesdays at 7pm and 8pm as well as on Wednesdays. As the girl has art lessons on Wednesdays, Tuesdays would make a better choice.

On top of swimming, the girl has also asked for piano lessons. Wahhh....where got time? Mind you, she has not said to stop going for any of her other classes. Although she does say at times she doesn't want to go for ballet, but after attending the day's lessons, she cleans forgets about the earlier self-doubt. Times when she doesn't want to go are times when she is feeling lazy.

When she was about 5ish, she would say no whenever I suggested sending her for any lesson and it always ends up with her liking them. It got to the point where I was quite fed-up, because I am impatient, and told her I will not ask her next time and she will just need to follow because she will end up enjoying the classes. But then again, with busy Saturdays like now, I dropped the idea of any other additional classes.

That is until our dear little friend asked for swimming and music lessons. 

Having 4 more months left of this year, (WHATTTT?!?!?!) I figured heck, just send. Let her swim for the next 4 months, then stop for primary 1. If she decides that she can still manage the evening lessons after school, she will let me know if she is still keen. As for music, I will arrange for a trial at a school that her classmate is attending and see how she likes it.

My only thought is if I should have start her off before she turned 5. Now? It's like there is not enough time!

So we received 'good news' today:

But, we are withdrawing her from that school and transferring her to one that is nearer to home. One that is beside her childcare centre, one that is within walking distance from home and most importantly one, that the student care we are sending her to is able to pick her up from.

After her classes on Saturday, the hubs and I sat down with the owner/teacher of the enrichment centre that K attends her HYPY and abacus classes at. I think I can speak for the hubs when I say, we do value the advise that the owner/abacus teacher gives us. She briefly spoke to the hubs about their student care program and fees last Saturday and asked that we both come in again to discuss about K's primary 1 student care plans. 

Having attended abacus since beginning of the year, followed by HYPY for quite a number of months now, we like how they guide the kids. Well, the enrichment setting is more intimate...I am not familiar yet with the student care setting. However, in the package, 2 hours of tuition is provided for English, Math and Chinese on 3 separate days and of course the usual homework supervision, lunch, tea breaks etc. Although the school itself have allocated space for privately run student cares, we are comfortable with the current place to prefer that the girl goes there. 

Furthermore, they have quite a few students from the school that they are willing to go and pick them up from, which makes us also want to transfer the girl there. Otherwise, we would have to arrange for a 1-way school transport for the girl to the student care after school hours. 

Initially, I was really skeptical on transferring the girl because I really have the impression that demographics is a factor on the make-up of a school. However, the owner assures me that both schools are almost on par and in fact, she has been impressed by the PSLE results that the nearer school has had for the recent 2 years. And, importantly, the parent factor comes into play. I am not for sending K to an elite school simply because when she is stress, we as parents feel the stress too. The NIL spends at least $1k on tuition alone! 

Anyhow, pray that our change of decision is blest by God. Only he will know the future.

Phase 2C Supplementary has closed and this morning's results were:

Over-registered by 8 children, an increase of 5 since yesterday!

And after tabulation when I checked at 4pm, results are:

Yay...we do not have to go through another round of anxiety, having been relegated to this phase after failing the earlier one. 

This was actually my 1st school of choice somehow but I can't remember how the hubs and I decided to try for a 'better rated' school. And now it seems we are showed the way back to it. Perhaps it is indeed good to plan for a stroll to the school this weekend?

So we had to repeat the registration for primary 1 again after being unsuccessful in the earlier application. 

The girl's ex-childcare mate's mum asked if we regretted not registering the girl when we could in the earlier phases of our alumni, namely the hubs' alumni and both our answers were no. As long as we do not do injustice to the girl's life by sending her to a horrible school but then again, there aren't much of those around these days right? Every teacher, principal and school has a kpi to meet.

Some so called brand name schools are nothing but a meeting point where the rich compete. Some brand name schools claim that they focus on holistic education which really means they are not academically inclined. And one thing they have in common is a nice name not named after some neighbourhood. 

Being very practical and I daresay chillax although sometimes the tiger instinct appears, proximity is very important to us, although I had to do some convincing to the hubs. I hated the travelling I had to do in primary and secondary school. So we are back to my initial 1st choice again before we decided to go ahead for the better rated one, which we will still put the girl on waitlist. 

And the results as of yesterday:

Over registered by 3. And we still have the whole of today! Well, let's see....let's see where God will lead us.

Monday morning was a busy one for me. 

We had to consult the Dr the evening before because the hubs was feeling like crap since the morning and then started having fever of 38.5 so we decided to go. I was pretty much left alone with the girl while the hubs slept the day away. Somehow, she wasn't in any mood to eat, which was so unlike her! I even had to make her finish up the filet 'o fish from Macs.

Despite her not having an appetite, she could still cycle. We were out for an hour and when we came back, she had a quick rinse and I told her to lie on the bed while I take my shower. She appeared sleepy too but I wasn't sure so I told her to just lie on bed and she do not have to close her eyes if she doesn't want to nap. When I got out from the shower, she was asleep.

I was feeling bored with 2 of them asleep. I had planned to take a walk to the next school option to gauge the proximity but nope, didn't happen. I was just lying around on the girl's pull-out bed and answering messages from the girl's ex-childcare mate's mum.

So long story cut short, the hubs was diagnosed with Influenza A, very likely contracted from the girl's ex-classmate's sister who had it just 2 weeks ago and was still coughing when we went to the bird park on Friday. The girl was feeling feverish when she got up and was whining so I decided to bring her to the Doc as well. Her temperature was 38.5 too but thankfully, she didn't have to go through the same test for Influenza as her father. The test involved pushing a long cotton bud like stick into the back of the nose. Damn, it hurt because the hubs actually had to get the Dr to stop twice? The girl, on the other hand, had slightly inflamed tonsils.

So back to Monday morning, the girl still felt feverish and I gave her a dose of paracetamol. With old and young down, there's no way I can go to work so I decided to lie down for a bit more. But who would to know, the girl didn't want to lie down and could even take her ukelele out to play. So I decided I do not have the luxury of leave days and decided to bring her to school and then go off to work. And boy was I efficient. We were out of the house slightly before 9am and I reached work before 10am. Which surprised my boss because I had  informed her earlier that I wasn't going in. Phew, 1 leave day saved!

After lunch, I had to repeat the registration process for the girl yet again and then at about 3pm, met a buyer from carousell who bought over the Rapunzel banner and a pack of Rapunzel balloons left over from the girl's birthday. Glad I manage to offload them!

We celebrated National Day at the Victor's with the White mom and daughter. Since it was pot-luck, my safest bet was shepherd's pie with a mix of potato and cauliflower since I couldn't decide. The Victor dad picked us up at the train station below the White's block and we all went to the Victor's together.

This is a rare time I get to sit down and enjoy the entire segment of the parade. We have been doing it at our home for past years and because I needed to 'entertain', I never really had a chance to sit down undisturbed. And since none of my other brothers were going to Jerry's when his wife sent out the invite, I didn't want to go either. Anyhow, it is a nice change.

And on the day after National Day, we had to take the day off because the childcare centre was closed. I made plans with the girl's ex-childcare mate and her family to visit the Bird Park. Since I thought we would have an extra 'ticket' with the hubs' corporate card, I decided to invite 1 of the girl's childcare mate along. She has been to our house twice or thrice and is fairly well-behaved. Since her parents don't seem to be able to afford much days off and on hearing that she will be going to the nanny's, I asked if she would like to join.

So, this was what happened:

Weather was nice, girls behaved and I think we all had fun especially the water-play that they were all looking forward to. They even had a chance to feed the lory birds and caught 2 bird-shows. But the poor hubs had to rush off for a 4pm meeting at the workplace.

Back home, I made the 2 girls take a nap, which surprisingly they did and for at least an hour. I made dinner for the girl and I because her classmate's mum was going to cook. 

We had quite a rushed dinner and then went for her replacement HYPY class, only to see that the centre's door was shut! Yes, the hubs had mistakenly informed me when the replacement class is actually on next Friday!

And today, after ballet, we went straight to M's home to celebrate her 79th birthday! We were all present except for the eldest brother and his family. We had dinner at the coffee shop below her block then proceeded upstairs for cake-cutting. 

Another busy weekend, make it a busy long weekend.

This little fellow came into the house yesterday. I was retrieving my towel from the balcony when I spotted something black despite it being dark outside. I had thought it was a moth initially and I sort of flung the part when it was clinging on and it landed on the balcony floor. And who would to know, when I switch on the balcony light, it was a baby bat!

The hubs was clueless, as always, what to do with it, how to handle it. And I needed to bathe desperately after yesterday's workout. So I said I would settle it after my shower. Just as I got into the bathroom, I heard the girl scream and then moments later, I heard the master bedroom door closed and then more sounds coming from the dining room. The hubs is out there, I will not go out. Let him handle whatever is going on out there.

After I came out from the shower, I saw the girl crouched on my bed, terrified. And the hubs came in to say the bat was flying around but he has lost track of it. Well, he said it flew to the the side of the shoe cabinet and 'disappeared'. So the very brave but also very emo me, such an oxymoron, took aside the bag of items meant to be donated when the next donation drive comes around from beside the shoe cabinet and found the little thing huddled in the small gap beside the cabinet and a stool.

The hubs, having watched too much tv, shone his torch continuously on the bat, claiming that they are afraid of light. Eventually I used his shoe horn to move it out of the main door through the gate. And then it flew off before we could even open the gate to take a video of it. Such drama...lol...especially from the girl who was screaming almost hysterically.

On another note, a sian note.....we did not get a slot in the school of our choice for the girl's Primary 1 balloting. This pushes us to the last phase for Singaporeans. We were already at the last phase. Now we are the supporting last.

Nevertheless, we are going to put her on waitlist in the same school and another. And the registration process starts again on Monday. Hiazzz....

The phase for the Primary 1 registration for us has ended yesterday. And the results are:

Today's news makes it more bleak but we shall have faith and continue to pray.

In comparison, the girl's ex-childcare mate's mother is stressing herself out because of the over-subscription of 10 in HER school of choice. I caps her because her husband is so chill, whichever school the girls get into.

We are back from our staycation!

Before we even started on it on Monday, we had to register the girl for Primary 1 on-line and then we had to drop by the hubs' office, had lunch there and then grabbed to Vivo to catch the monorail into Sentosa. Thankfully, we opened our mouths to ask and got free tickets because we have a hotel booking in there. Otherwise we would have to pay $4 each for the monorail ride just to enter Sentosa when walking in would otherwise be free.

Since this staycation is our first without the car, I suggested packing our stuff and carrying them in our own havas-sack instead of the usual trolley bag. And because I was waiting for a letter from work, I had to bring my laptop along and thankfully, nothing came until I reached home after checking-out.

This time, I got us unlimited rides on the cable car as we had promised the girl we would take it 'one day'. We tried to take as many rides as we could, lol, to make the 1-day pass 'worth it'. 

We also went up the merlion and caught the show 'Wings of Time'. As usual, we went to the luge, which is in my opinion, not to be missed. Although I had a list of 'free' things to do, we only managed 1 because 'not enough time'. And it was drizzling intermittently as well. It rained the first day, drizzled intermittently on the 2nd and last days. But we had fun.

It is still very fun to have a staycation in Sentosa, especially when we have it complimentary. We do not know if we will still be eligible next year so this could perhaps be our last. oh well, always enjoy the moments!

I was finally able to go for my hair appointment on Friday, after calling it off again on Tuesday because I seemed to be having quite a painful ovulation pain. So the hubs was left to bring the girl for her HYPY class which was rescheduled to Friday because it was the newest niece-in-law's 1 month celebration.

The luncheon was from 11am to 3pm and the hubs had wanted to stay throughout the day, even suggesting to me to have dinner there. But I feel that we should not overstay our welcome because when the function hall is returned, we will have to go up to the youngest BIL's unit and camp there for a couple more hours till dinner time. Besides the youngest BIL was still 'recuperating' from his recent motorcycle accident and the youngest SIL had another pregnancy scare and was resting at home. But the hubs, *rollseyes* somehow did not comprehend but thankfully, was given tickets to watch Arsenal game in Singapore so I was more than happy to let him go watch it with my eldest brother while I brought the girl for her ballet class. The hubs had initial thoughts of letting her skip it!

And on Sunday, we attended a lunch wedding of my cousin's son. Beautiful wedding and they had their parents walk-in before the actual march in of the wedding couple. When they did, they both sang while walking into the hall. I, being so emotional, had tears rolling so freely down my cheeks...it was embarrassing. Thankfully, I had the girl kneel on my laps and so no one could see.

When the lunch ended about 3ish, we were told to help ourselves with the floral decorations, which we did! They spent so much effort in putting up so much floral display and with so exotic flowers. Simply lovely.

And in the evening, we were out again, this time to meet the eldest brother, SIL and her sister who is back visiting from the USA. Usually, she would join our family for National Day celebration in our home but this year, she came earlier so she would also be going back earlier. Just to thank her for always buying gifts for the girl, we decided to treat her for dinner before she heads back. 

And then we head for our annual Sentosa staycation! :)

I was supposed to do my hair on Friday but the hubs managed to convince me to join him and the girl out instead. And since I was running late from some last minute issues that cropped up at work, I had to cancel on my hairstylist and join the 2 of them.

The hubs ended up on a frivolous buy because it included me. 

They were going cheap! Hopefully they do not come apart just after a few wears. 2 pairs each for the 2 of us and none for the girl because there weren't any in her size. Besides she is ever-growing so no point in getting her so many shoes or clothes. And since they came cheap, the hubs willingly paid for mine. Heh.

And this morning, while the 2 of them were out for the girl's classes,I tidied up our shoe cabinet.Not all the shelves were used but now, there is only 1 or 2 empty ones left. I swear I had more shoes in the previous house. Now it seems I have so many pairs of sneakers! I wear most of my flats and rotate between the black and skin coloured heels. I do not wear heels much these days. It's sneakers time.

And then we had the usual ballet in the afternoon. Instead of heading straight home after ballet, we brought the girl to the library to return and borrow more books as well as to redeem the book bugs cards.

On our way home, we chanced upon the beautiful display of our RASF planes. Again, we did not get hold of the elusive tickets for NDP. I guess no choice, this will do for now.

The hubs had a full-day strategic meeting at the office yesterday but good thing he could send the girl for her morning classes while I busied myself with the usual chores. However, I had to pick the girl up.

When we got home, someone called out for me from the neighbour's house and no surprise, it was M. Yes, she did not bother to call us again. And the auntie, so 'clever' of her told M that we would be back shortly, because I probably went to pick the girl up from class, and invited M to take a seat at their home. When I recounted this to the hubs later, we were amused because auntie seems to know our schedule! But then again, no surprised because the hubs and K bumped into her outside our flat when they left for class in the morning.

So I brought the girl for ballet, waited as usual, then brought her to the library after. We had borrowed some books when we went to the library last week with Esther and while returning them, I allowed her to borrow some more. At the same time, redeem some 'bugs card' collectible cards that E introduced K. After that, we met the hubs for dinner.

And in the afternoon today, K attended her 1st Macdonald's birthday party. Her friend from the 1st childcare centre she attended had included her together with the rest of her K2 friends from school, all of whom the girl cannot remember. Neither can I but then again, I hardly fetched her from school at that time. But the girl and I did remember the Chinese teacher who was invited and who has resigned from that centre. The hubs perhaps is the only one who recognised more faces. Lol.

The girl's childcare brought the K2s to visit a nearby primary school this morning. And because they were required to report to the centre early, we had to wake the girl up at 6:30am, just about 1/2 hour earlier than usual. 

There were also some other childcare centres involved too and she bumped into her HYPY and art friends at the neighbouring primary school.

When I got home after exercise class yesterday, I asked her what she saw and did. And then when it came to the question of what she ate during recess time, she used up the $2 that we were told to give them.

She ate a plate of beehoon, 1 char-siew pau and a cup of cold milo. Then she bought a packet of snacks. The hubs was surprised she could spend all that with just $2. I said perhaps the beehoon was just a small plate that's why when she went back to the centre, she had some more food and 3 slices of papaya. I'm glad she ate something because the other 2 girls in her class, only bought snacks with the money. 

While most of her childcare friends seem to be registering for this neighbourhood school, the hubs and I have decided to register her at another, which is supposed to have a 'higher' standard. Since we are not keen on sending her to our alumni, might as well get a 'better' neighbourhood school. I think we hear enough to not embrace the 'every school is a good school' catch phrase by some minister. We are also not exactly elitist to send her to our almuni either. I never use to think much about neighbourhood schools but age has made me wiser, I suppose.

Anyhow, we are monitoring the registration at the different phases and hopefully, there are more then enough come our turn, at the school of our choice.

While we were eating out near the girl's school on Friday, her classmate passed by with her mum and kid brother. The girl called out to them and so I beckoned them over. The mum then asked if her daughter can come over and play with K. This mum is always asking. And since it's a Friday, we said ok.

They went to the market for their dinner and we went to look for them after ours at the western outlet. Although K's classmate was eating half-way, her mother suggested that she pack hers and bring it to our place to continue eating. I think I can speak for the hubs too when I say I will not disrupt my daughter's meal like that. I have said to let her finish her dinner but the mother says it's ok. Different strokes for different folks ya.

When we got home, we got K to shower first while her friend continued her dinner and then off they went to play. Having just the 2 of them were fine. But when the mother came over with her brother, it was crazy. K was trying to contain them in 1 room but they were toggling between the 2 and carrying toys from 1 room to the other. I could see K trying hard to manage it and every time they moved to the next room, she will switch off the fan and light. A little ocd like me here.

And on Saturday, after doing the house chores and not feeling up to cooking, I decided to meet the hubs who was waiting for the girl at Macdonald's and chatting with his friend who is a regular there as well. While waiting, Esther text me and said she wants to see the girl so I said sure. Who knew she happened to be in the same Macdonald's as we were but was sitting at a different area.

And so she gave the girl a surprise when we brought her down to Macdonald's for lunch after her Saturday classes. They continued playing at home and Esther followed us to ballet and joined us for dinner. We finally managed to use the meal vouchers we had and it's more worth it using it on Esther as she can eat a normal adult size portion now. So we got K a kid's meal instead. And then we bused home.

Having some inspiration to cook dinner on yesterday evening, I made a small meal of chicken chop with french beans, celery, oyster mushrooms, cherry tomatos and mixed vegetables for us. The adult version, followed by the kid's. Lol.

Catching up on the world cup fever, yesterday's art work:

The player heading the goal can actually move through a cut in the paper. Heh.

Last Friday, we had a bento making session organised by HPB and the building management. The few of us tenants who signed up thought we will be taught how to make bento but it ended up with us 'designing' our own bento with ill-equipped accessories. Who uses metal cookie cutter for moulding rice? Shouldn't we use a proper mould such as a jelly mould? But anyhow, we had 'fun' while it lasted.

After ballet on Saturday, we decided to alight at Bukit Batok MRT station to utilise some restaurant vouchers that we had but were told that it was Youth Day the next day so vouchers cannot be used. So we window shopped and I then saw a shop that does ear piercing. The girl has been telling me that she wants to pierce her ears some weeks back but every time we are out, she hesitates and asks me again how would the pain be.

When we met the eldest bro and SIL last Sunday, she didn't want to have her ears pierced in front of them. Besides I didn't see any ear piercing shop either. So finally, when I chanced upon 1, we went in to enquire and I was turned off by the cost of the earrings, no wonder the piercing service is free! While seated on the stool, the girl started sobbing and it went full blast when the lady merely marked her ear lobes. I was ready to say let's do it another time but the husband kept assuring the girl that it's ok together with the sales staff. At 1 point, the girl screamed so loudly that the people near the opposite shops turned and looked. 

It's funny how the girl anticipated the pain and thought of the worst. I guess that's how many of us are. Now, we have to apply the ear cleaning solution for 6 weeks and return on Saturday for a 'review'. It cost slightly over $100 and my heart is feeling the pain. This month I spent quite a bit on shopping. No more spending for the next few months!

Monday's dinner:

Tasted so good, the hubs said I can do this when we have guests come over next time. Awwwhhhh... I hardly work with chicken because for some reason, I find them hard to cook properly. This time, we bought boneless chicken thighs/drumsticks and it's actually no problem at all. I didn't even realise that they sell mince chicken at the supermarkets until recently. That's how often we buy chicken. Next time, I will make shepherd's pie with mince chicken instead. At least everyone in the hubs's immediate family can eat. 

And to digress, this is the girl's 'project' for her art classes.

The hubs brought it back plain and the girl is supposed to design it for the constituency's National Day celebration. We didn't get to do it at all after last Wednesday and I 'forced' them to do something about it on Monday. Procrastinating is the hub's middle name and I absolutely hate it. Thankfully, we managed to get it done quickly.

The girl had some ideas and I searched youtube with her. Saw what we liked and I copied it on paper and she drew it on the kompang. The daddy had to help her eventually but it's all team-work! 

When we brought it back for art class yesterday, there were many nice ones as well. Apparently, it's some competition and the girl is resigned that she will not win. Lol....well, I told her there are so many participants so it's ok. Heh.

The Victors' 'invited' us to go on a day trip to JB yesterday. Since they are driving, why not? Lol. We even caught a rainbow!

The Victor wife is a regular now, going on almost weekly trips to JB with her girlfriends and so I requested that she bring us to where she usually went. The hubs took over the car and the drive in wasn't too bad and I even bumped into an ex-colleague coming out of her family car and bringing out her daughter, presumably to the toilet, at Malaysia immigration. But they were going to Legoland.

I only bought a pair of working skirt, didn't see much since our last trip was just last month. And we took this opportunity to load up on bulky items since we have the car. Now that we go in by public bus these days, we do not buy heavy or bulky items anymore. I guess those will have to wait till the Victors next jio us into JB. Lol.

Towards dinner time, the younger Victor girl, the older one didn't join us, started showing signs of stomach flu. Thankfully, she was sustained till her home. The Victors even dropped us off home, albeit the hubs was the one driving. Heh.

And after church today, we caught up with the eldest brother and SIL and had lunch with them at Harbourfront. We walked around Vivo after that, had dessert and I did some shopping. Then we took the bus home and M was waiting for us at the void deck.

The eldest brother had wanted to visit M and the hubs suggested calling M to come over since she was out anyway. She ended up waiting for us for almost an hour because we took the bus ride home. We had dinner together at the market, M went back home while the eldest brother came to watch World Cup with the hubs. 

It is back to work again and ballet starts again next Saturday, I am not exactly looking forward to it.

Last's evening's art piece of our recent visitors about town:

Lol...I thought it was quite good really. So funny.... :p

We stayed home on Saturday, after a busy night before. In fact, I had quite a bad headache, most of mine are, that I slept in until the hubs came back with the girl from HYPY class. 

I only got up when the girl pressed the doorbell to heat up lunch, pasta from the night before. There is a 2 Saturday break for ballet lessons and thankfully, the hubs wasn't insistent to go out either. I did end up doing the laundry, washing the shower curtain, floor mat for the master bathroom and scrub the floor of master bathroom. At about 5ish, I suggested bringing the girl down on her bicycle since she was behaving very well. No resistance to doing assessment books whatsoever.

The girl ended up cycling for slightly more than a whole hour at the park connector downstairs, which clocked in 3500+ steps for the hubs and I. She had wobbly legs thereafter. Lol. It was a nice slow day indeed.

And on Sunday, we attended the 2nd BIL's son's 2nd birthday after church. The FIL had called the hubs during service and apparently he was not feeling well so asked for us to go to the BIL's place with the MIL. Although she had 1/2 hour to prepare from the middle of our church service to arriving at the MRT station, we still waited for her for at least 1/2 hour.

After cake cutting, the 3 of us followed the youngest BIL and his wife back to their condo because the girl had requested to 'swim'. The NIL was in Malaysia with his relatives, the youngest BIL had a game so the SIL and I gossiped while sitting on the lounge chairs while the hubs kept the girl company.

After about almost an hour's water play, we went back up. After shower, the girl took an hours' nap while I helped the SIL prepare simple dinner and the hubs watching over the girl who was sleeping on the sofa and drooling. 

We had to go back to the 2nd BIL's place after late dinner just to pick the mother up. This time, I was surprised, the hubs arranged for the Grab to drop the 3 of us home first then his mother. He even told her the fare and had her pay for it herself. Lol.

End of the long weekend and it's back to a new work week again. How time flies....

Early week, the hubs asked if I would like to have dinner at the Victors on this Hari Raya public holiday or if we should have them over. I was ok with either and then decided that we should host them since we hardly do. So we ended up having them and the Whites over. It wasn't too many people since the White daughter and the elder Victor daughter did not come.

I told the hubs I wanted to try the wagyu again. How could I have burnt it black the last time his brothers came, when I have done it so nicely before!? Thankfully the hubs has some faith in me.

The hubs cut the beef into 4 sections and we served 2. I marinated 2 cuts with just black pepper, salt and rosemary while the last cut was with Red Wine marinate. This time, I put it in the oven for just 30 minutes after browning them. The other dishes were Chicken Pesto Pasta, Cottage Pie with Cauliflower instead of the usual potato and store bought Chicken Keema Wrap, and of course a jelly dessert. The hubs even bought pork trotters in vinegar and 2 portions of it, which eventually had to be kept for another day. 

There I am cooking western and he buys back a local dish! Anyhow, as concerned as I was with the food quantity, everyone had their full and loved the beef so much, I only had the wraps and excessive pasta left over. I always over estimate the portion of pasta to be cooked and threw in the whole pack!

They stayed till about 11ish after the World Cup and thankfully, the hubs had been washing and cleaning along the way so there wasn't much to potter around with after the guests left.

The girl's HYPY classes on Friday has been changed to Saturday mornings because the class size has gotten bigger and apparently there are a couple of children in that class who needs more attention. However, only K and another boy has been moved to the Saturday morning class, which is perfect for us because we do not need to mad rush after work to pick her up, shower her, give her dinner then send her. And since it is only 2 of them, the class is now 1 hour instead of 1 1/2.

The girl gets a break for 1/2 hour before abacus class starts. Gives her some 'experience' before she goes to Primary 1 next year when recess time is also 1/2 hour. I packed a snack box of a bun and 1 pack of biscuit but she ended up only eating the packet biscuit. 

So since there was no need to rush after work on Friday, I text the hubs to say I have no inspiration to cook and he suggested eating out. It's been awhile since we have the freedom of time to go out on a weekday after school/work so it was refreshing. I did some shopping for her because she has outgrown her sweater and we couldn't find any buttoned ones when we were in JB last Monday. And then I got tempted and bought her some t-shirts. I need to curb my shopping for her because she has so much clothes and she is in uniform Mondays to Fridays so the weekends are not exactly sufficient days for her to wear all her clothes. I am glad she was given A LOT of hand-me-downs when she was a baby/toddler. I can imagine how crazy I would have been on shopping.

Anyhow, after 3 hours away at the enrichment centre, the girl is back for lunch then plays awhile before we head out to ballet. After ballet, we went out again and this time to a birthday dinner invite for a 61 year old fun loving guy. This same guy who offered free flow sharks fin few years back for his birthday party.

And today, we attended the previous church being led to think that Bev was going too and she wanted to spend some time with her cousin but she ended up sleeping in at home and we following the girl's favourite uncle & aunt home. As usual, we spent the whole afternoon and had dinner there. Ended up going home early at 8ish though because we were tired. Next time, we will meet in the middle for lunch.

The hubs back is acting up again. It hurt him so much this morning that he decided to go for TCM massage before work. The pain came back, presumably after a fall he had while playing with the kids on Tuesday. He was seated on a kid's plastic chair when the legs just opened up sideways without breaking!

I offered to pick the girl from school yesterday because of his pain. It is so bad he can hardly move.

And last night's quick 1 meal dish, with the remainder of the wagon wheel pasta and a small bit of cottage pie. I added bacon, finally, and mushrooms. Delish, I must add.

We invited the hubs' family over for lunch today. Only the FIL did not come and I told the hubs perhaps his mother informed him last minute anyway.

Since it was for lunch, I got myself busy from the time I woke up. I had harboured big plans to roast wagyu beef, a pasta dish, cottage pie, fried rice and heat up the fish from yesterday's dinner and bring to boil a pre-packed Clam Chowder soup.

My roast beef looking good

But never made it to the table sadly.

I even had the hubs prepare homemade lemongrass drink yesterday night, when we returned from JB:

It is definitely a big challenge cooking for this people. No pork, no bacon, no mutton and I don't fancy working with chicken. I do not know if they ate their full but thankfully, it wasn't excessively much that was left over.

They stayed till about 4ish and a little after the girl had a headache, likely due to the lack of sleep from the past few days. The MIL was the last to go because there was a direct bus from our place to hers. While she was at our place, she did not fail to go around the rooms like an inspector. I was irritated at 1 point when she went to the balcony, saw the hubs' golf bag and opened something. So I said 'Wah, Mother, you on inspection ah?' Then she mumbled something but at least I let it off my chest. Such utter rudeness! When no one else were in the rooms, in she went and started her inspection! Pfft!

Anyhow, back to the girl who I had insisted to take a shower to cool her body down and then lie down. She was tugging the hair at her top of her head in so much pain and so I gave her a dose of liquid panadol. Thankfully, she took a 2 hour nap and was able to eat her dinner. Her headache was gone by then and I again took this opportunity to tell her that's what happens when she doesn't have enough rest.

Glad we had a lunch invite instead of a dinner. As it was, 12 noon ended up with the brothers coming at 1:30pm. I do not know what else to say. *rollseyes*

The weekend started off with a trip to the RASF 50th anniversary roadshow near our home. The rain had stopped and while waiting for the hubs to meet us, we went ahead first after ballet lessons. The girl had a fun time there, putting on a kids size uniform and taking a picture of a mock-up plane and having the photo professionally printed and framed. There were air force related souvenirs and she went on the heliopter simulator as well as sitting on daddy's lap while he tried the plane simulator. While waiting for the hubs who went to the opening of a friend's salon, we were at the roadshow for 2 hours!

On Sunday, we 'visited' the previous church because the girl told the hubs that she misses her kuku & kimkim. I say visit because we have only attended the church regularly since January and we are still finding ourselves there, getting used to the church style, so to speak. But we have decided to find a place of worship nearer home now. 

So after church on Sunday, we had lunch with the eldest brother and his wife before parting ways. We will definitely miss this bonding sessions.

In the evening, we went over to the hubs' aunt's home at her invitation as they have a Nepali aunt over.

The hubs and I have taken the day off today as the girl's childcare is closed and so we took advantage of it to go to JB. Tim had wanted to bring her out but the hubs had already applied for leave. The eldest brother was supposed to join us too, with the SIL but ended up only the SIL came with us because the brother accidentally put his passport in the wash, after his recent trip to UK! By the time he decided to replace the passport, the new one was not ready yet.

The 4 of us took the CW bus that brought us to a mall in JB but we were quite bored there so the hubs suggested getting a grab to our preferred mall, where I bought some more clothes. Heh. But unfortunately, the supermarket was going through renovation so we didn't get to buy much. Finally, we grabbed to the mall near the check-point and had dinner there before we left for home. First time we 'covered' 3 malls within such a short span of time.

In the morning, when we were heading towards the bus-stop below our block, the strap of my bag gave way and so I tied the strap to the hook instead. Then the other strap gave way after crossing Singapore immigration. In the evening, the handle of the trolley suitcase that the hubs brought along came apart. So when we returned, it was 2 bags to the bin. Lol. What an adventure!