My first (group) date with a 6-year-old :)

(Testing out "Blog Touch", for it's mobile photo update; looks like it's going to work )

This national day holiday, we did a one night stay at Sentosa.  We didn't realise that 10th Aug is school holidays, so we booked the 8th-9th instead.  Over the past few years, we tried many different hotels.  As I remembered one of the most spacious one was Festive hotel at RWS.  The last time we were there was for Lynn's 5th BD (I think).  This time round, we managed to quite comfortably squeeze 6 pax.  Brayden took the upper bunk bed; the 3 girls took the queen size bed; WK and myself took the sofa bed (it's the size of in-between super single and queen).  We brought along a sleeping bag, which complimented the sofa bed.  My assessment is that this was the most comfortable one-room-fit-many hotel room.  

This was the first time that I brought Brayden out.  It had always been the girls.  Brayden is now 6++, going to be 7 in a few months' time.  Being old enough, he didn't give any trouble at all.  It was really fun for the cousins; that night, in the room, they played hide and seek.  I'm glad to have this opportunity to interact with Brayden.

The kids and the teens clambered for the bunk bed.


The teens claimed to have missed lunch, took off for food.  So I took the kids for a swim.


WK and MIL arrived at 3+.   After we washed up, the whole gang head out for beach station.  WK and the 5 cousins tried the skyline and luge.
 




The skyline ride does not stop at all; passengers have to disembark while it is moving.  WK took this nice pic of the girls in motion (jumping off and away from the skyline carriage).


MIL and I waited for them at the bottom.  One by one, they come down by the luge.

Dinner for 8


Here's one pic for remembrance.  Say cheese...


The next morning, we brought them to do the indoor sky diving.  Brayden was underaged; Lynn did it before and didn't want to try again.

These 2 had a blasting good time.


After this, 3 of them did a 5 minutes Segway, while Lynn and myself hang out at the beach.    

Heading back to the hotel via the Casino entrance, for check out at 12pm.


Me at Siloso beach..




Happy Birthday Singapore!

Antibiotics, Travel and Pets - CNY'17'D1/D2

After a break of 2 years, I went Malacca for CNY this year. Lynn came down with fever on Thursday night. I took her to see the doctor on CNY eve (Friday morning). When the doctor said he will prescribe antibiotics, I started saying my usual line "Err, it is really necessary....", but I changed my mind quickly.  Since we were travelling on the following day (CNY D1), I decided to "play cheat", and started her on antibiotics immediately.  Although antibiotics is supposed to be only for bacteria infection, somehow, it has been proven by trial and error that recovery is faster with antibiotics.   

We risked traffic jam to secure more sleep.  We woke up at 7+, and were out of the house only at 9am.  The jam was tolerable.  As usual we did several stops along the short journey, so we ended up reaching only at 2pm.  It took us a whopping 5 hours to get to Malacca on CNY D1. 

On day 2, we went Kulai to visit WK's grandma.  She shifted to one of WK Uncle's house.  And to our pleasant surprise, they have 2 dogs and a cat!  We had a great time "playing" with the cat.  She's a fierce one, only allows grandma to pat her and scratches anyone else who touches her, including Uncle.  But she played with Lynn, chasing her a bit in the living room. 

The traffic on Day 2 was great, and we ended our Malaysia CNY visiting with 2 boxes of Magnum ice-cream at half price when converted to SGD..  And here are the pictures:
 

 

 Momo, looking longingly at folks at the dinning table and those with food..

 

I look so "aunty" in this photo

 

 

This year we stayed at Novotel for the night instead of Aunty's house. 

 

D2 morning, back at Aunty's house.  What to do when bored?  Take wefies

 

Lynn is well enough to roam the garden.  She managed to catch "butterfly", and took it back to SG.

 

When we reached home, we asked her to release it out.

 

Here's a few photos of the pets at Grandma's house.  This one is a friendly dog.  

 And here's the pretty cat, who lost an eye.  She is actually quite playful and curious, but is quite wary of human.  Next year, we plan to bring a cat tease to play with her!

CNY reunion 2017

My 3 reunions started early this year. 

The Yap family ate out this year.  I prefer to eat at home.  But since I don't cook, I don't think I have the right to veto eating out.  It turn out to be quite fun, better than I expected, and we even took an outdoor family photo!

The second was the Chan family.  Yet another year, I told myself that we must take photo, but yet another year, we didn't.  This year Dad was sick, so he couldn't join us for dinner.  Somehow, I didn't see Joyce walk in nor walk out, so I wonder how tall she has grown.  Aunt told me yesterday that Joyce is already 1.6m. 

Finally, it was the Lim family's.  Without grandma, it was as per normal for me.  I guess, she has been physically around, but not spiritually for the past few years already, so I didn't feel any different.

I went early, left Lynn at home because she was feverish.  So I get to help out a bit..  Firstly, I helped Wee San cut out her .. err. Chick deco, haha..  Then I realised that Aunty Cindy bought the wrong Yusheng platter from NTUC - ie one without carrot and radish strips, so she asked me to cut up a carrot from scratch!  Luckily, she thought of using "Dongfen".  End up, the Yusheng was pretty decent. 

And I bought tomato soup base from HaiDiLao, and pork and beef shabu-shabu.  I asked around, and my colleagues suggested getting from Isetan instead of NTUC because it's better quality.  So I spent a fortune this CNY reunion. 

Then we celebrated Wee San's birthday.  This year, I decided that I will stop give Ang Bao to working adult cousins past 30s.  I informed her beforehand.  So I decided to buy her a birthday gift. I wrapped it using a page from a magazine (cos I didn't have wrapping paper).  And I didn't bother to tear out the price tag..  I hope she gets it that it is still extremely sincere.   

And finally, here's a few photos of my new year plants at home.

 

Middle age

This year's birthday, I looked back at some of my old postings on blog and FB and realised that (i) I have aged, and (ii) I have been talking about going into the 2nd half of my life since a few years back (http://millidream.blogspot.sg/2009/01/half-way-there.html)

35th Bd, still youthful looking back then.

43, no longer earlier 40s, more like mid 40s.  If I had looked "not like 40" 3 years ago, now I definitely look my age.  Not complaining; although I am vain, I am not that obsessed.  Just stating my observation.

This year's birthday, was uneventful compared to 40,41, and 42.  Uneventful in a good way. 

Firstly, I celebrated with friends on Sunday.  Here are the photos for remembrance sake:

 I celebrated with my 2 darlings, with a simple dinner at TPY center.  That's the best that Mr. darling has done in so many year, so I shall be thankful and appreciative. 

Sweetie chose Black Forest cake. Took it to grandma's house to share.

There were the usual SMS, from the RV gang (ha! as if I'm from RV..), old friends like Hwee Shan, Weiyu, Lydia.  And my most loyal “美妹” Sze Yeng, and my extended Lim family.  I think these are going to be the folks who will wish me every year, till.. death do us apart?? HA!  Oh, I must not forget, the beauties from Jabil too!

And for yet another year/time, my dear MIL "forgot" my birthday, and in a "loud" way.. Whenever I discuss with my girl friends the topic whether parents in laws can ever be as close as our own parents, I always advocate "no", and that it is only natural.  I will tell the story of my MIL who tells me every yearend that the earliest birthday in the (extended) family is my SIL's (May), whose birthday is on 19 Jan.  I never bother to correct her, cos year after year, she will watch us celebrate my birthday on the 11th, and the next year she will still say the same thing.  I feel that birthday of children are very special to their mothers.  Thus I never expected her to remember my as well as her own.  Anyway, this year, she declared very loudly in front of the whole family during CNY reunion that May's birthday is the earliest, and still ask “是吗？”when the rest tried correcting her.  HAHAHA again.. 

Just realized that May seldom appear on my blog. Here we are at 海底捞 for reunion dinner of the Yap family.

My birthday wish for this year is: 
Find a higher  purpose, light up my fire, be healthier, be as thankful and as grateful as always