Just a quick note: We're bringing Ning to Taiwan for a week long holiday tomorrow. Will update you guys when we're back.
Meantime, here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Winter Wonderland Dressing Competition
Last Sunday, our church's Sunday School organized the annual Children's Christmas Party. And the theme was "Winter Wonderland". To make it more interesting, there was a dressing up competition: To come dressed up in winter wear for the party.
Coincidentally, we're preparing for our Taiwan trip and I bought a few cloths for Ning for the chilly weather there. So these came in useful for the competition. Here's how she was dressed up for the event (see collage) and she good naturedly posed for the camera. The cap and the scarf are from my sister but it fitted her nicely.
Eventually, she won one of the 15 prizes for "Best dressed kid" during the competition. And got a snowman water bottle home.
Coincidentally, we're preparing for our Taiwan trip and I bought a few cloths for Ning for the chilly weather there. So these came in useful for the competition. Here's how she was dressed up for the event (see collage) and she good naturedly posed for the camera. The cap and the scarf are from my sister but it fitted her nicely.
Eventually, she won one of the 15 prizes for "Best dressed kid" during the competition. And got a snowman water bottle home.
My 2008 Christmas Presents
Last year, WF gave me a pair of jogging shoes as Christmas presents. Because he wanted me to exercise regularly.
This year, I get a pair of Winnie the Pooh bedroom slippers AND a pair of roller blades.
I needed to feed Zhi milk in the wee hours of the night and our place is really very windy and cold during 2 to 4am. So he thought the slippers might come in useful to keep me warm while walking to and fro the kitchen to make milk.
The blades, well, he wanted to blade and thought it'll be fun if I can too.
I know, there is this Chinese superstition about giving shoes. But WF being a contrarian and one who never believes such things, feels that giving me practical "solutions" are best.
I wonder if I'm getting a pair of ski next year.
Hah Hah... wishful thinking.
This year, I get a pair of Winnie the Pooh bedroom slippers AND a pair of roller blades.
I needed to feed Zhi milk in the wee hours of the night and our place is really very windy and cold during 2 to 4am. So he thought the slippers might come in useful to keep me warm while walking to and fro the kitchen to make milk.
The blades, well, he wanted to blade and thought it'll be fun if I can too.
I know, there is this Chinese superstition about giving shoes. But WF being a contrarian and one who never believes such things, feels that giving me practical "solutions" are best.
I wonder if I'm getting a pair of ski next year.
Hah Hah... wishful thinking.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Attending Party/Gatherings 101
We held a few gatherings at our place this December and to a certain extent, it was crazy. Crazily preparing food and cleaning up the house. And to make matter worse, it was also the month where we change maid twice. So I had to do most of the cooking plus supervision.
Not so much about preparing for parties/gatherings since Martha Stewart is the expert in this area. What I want to share is some things to take note if you are the invited guest.
1. Never arrive early before the stated time of the gathering. In fact, according to a David Tutera Party Planner show, its quite rude to arrive early (as well as being late).
You see, we can't reject you when you've arrived at our doorstep. So we invite you in. You enter the host's house to meet an unprepared and embarrassed host, table's not set, kids are not bathed, drinks not prepared etc. And while the hosts are scrambling to get everything ready, you are left alone staring into the TV because none of us can entertain you at the moment. It becomes awkward for all of us.
2. If its a potluck gathering, please check with the host on the headcount. You want to bring something enough for everybody but NOT excessive. Key word here, excessive. Like its a gathering of 10 people, please don't bring something for 20 people.
Christmas is a time of giving and meeting. But let's not make it into a time of throwing. If you bring too much food (especially too much of ONE kind of food), there're bound to be leftovers. And very likely, you are not going to 'tabao' back. So it stays put in the hosts house. Your over-estimation becomes the host's responsibility to store and finish up the food for you over the next few days.
According to Espirito Santo Gourmet & Butchery, estimate about 200g of meat per person if you're bringing some roasted meat dishes.
3. Don't duplicate the same items for potluck. Check with the host and everybody in the emailing list on what items each guest is bringing. If emails aren't used, you can always call the host to check. The host should have the responsibility to check who's bring what.
So never assume. Because the last thing we want is three trays of fried beehoon and no other varieties. This is not a fried beehoon tasting competition, so let's make this gathering an amicable one by not having to compare taste and styles of the beehoon.
4. Never be overly late. Of course, we talk about arriving before the stated time, we must also talk about arriving late. Punctuality is something the society values. So it'll be nice if we can arrive on time. However, given the unpredictable traffic conditions in S'pore, lateness is something we can and have been tolerating.
However, there is a limit. Arriving more than 1hr later than the stated time can be quite disturbing. Especially if it is a sit down dinner and everybody is waiting for your arrival. Because we would be seen as rude if we were to start the dinner without you. And so we wait.... till the food becomes cold and the sauce turns gluey.
5. RSVP please. And also provide the headcount of people you are bringing so the host can prepare enough food for everybody. Its like those typical Chinese wedding dinner where we'll RSVP to the wedding couple on how many of us are attending the dinner so they can allocate seats for us. Likewise, if the host is cooking/catering, I need the headcount to do my food estimation. It's not nice if I under cater and it becomes a wastage if I over cater.
So much for these... I hope I am not being naggy.
And if you are thinking if all these did happen to me. Nope, not entirely. And I'm glad I had some really nice guests.
Merry Christmas to All!
Not so much about preparing for parties/gatherings since Martha Stewart is the expert in this area. What I want to share is some things to take note if you are the invited guest.
1. Never arrive early before the stated time of the gathering. In fact, according to a David Tutera Party Planner show, its quite rude to arrive early (as well as being late).
You see, we can't reject you when you've arrived at our doorstep. So we invite you in. You enter the host's house to meet an unprepared and embarrassed host, table's not set, kids are not bathed, drinks not prepared etc. And while the hosts are scrambling to get everything ready, you are left alone staring into the TV because none of us can entertain you at the moment. It becomes awkward for all of us.
2. If its a potluck gathering, please check with the host on the headcount. You want to bring something enough for everybody but NOT excessive. Key word here, excessive. Like its a gathering of 10 people, please don't bring something for 20 people.
Christmas is a time of giving and meeting. But let's not make it into a time of throwing. If you bring too much food (especially too much of ONE kind of food), there're bound to be leftovers. And very likely, you are not going to 'tabao' back. So it stays put in the hosts house. Your over-estimation becomes the host's responsibility to store and finish up the food for you over the next few days.
According to Espirito Santo Gourmet & Butchery, estimate about 200g of meat per person if you're bringing some roasted meat dishes.
3. Don't duplicate the same items for potluck. Check with the host and everybody in the emailing list on what items each guest is bringing. If emails aren't used, you can always call the host to check. The host should have the responsibility to check who's bring what.
So never assume. Because the last thing we want is three trays of fried beehoon and no other varieties. This is not a fried beehoon tasting competition, so let's make this gathering an amicable one by not having to compare taste and styles of the beehoon.
4. Never be overly late. Of course, we talk about arriving before the stated time, we must also talk about arriving late. Punctuality is something the society values. So it'll be nice if we can arrive on time. However, given the unpredictable traffic conditions in S'pore, lateness is something we can and have been tolerating.
However, there is a limit. Arriving more than 1hr later than the stated time can be quite disturbing. Especially if it is a sit down dinner and everybody is waiting for your arrival. Because we would be seen as rude if we were to start the dinner without you. And so we wait.... till the food becomes cold and the sauce turns gluey.
5. RSVP please. And also provide the headcount of people you are bringing so the host can prepare enough food for everybody. Its like those typical Chinese wedding dinner where we'll RSVP to the wedding couple on how many of us are attending the dinner so they can allocate seats for us. Likewise, if the host is cooking/catering, I need the headcount to do my food estimation. It's not nice if I under cater and it becomes a wastage if I over cater.
So much for these... I hope I am not being naggy.
And if you are thinking if all these did happen to me. Nope, not entirely. And I'm glad I had some really nice guests.
Merry Christmas to All!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Another Crazy Christmas
Went for this show last night at Suntec. It was put up by 10 crazy entertainers like the Dim Sum Dollies, Hossan Leong and Robin Goh etc.
Most of the performers sang some Christmas related songs which we find them so-so. But what WF and I liked best are the 4 segments put up by Hossan Leong on 16 new ERP gantries and his dance on Mambo nights, Pam Oei's Mrs Santa who made fun of the Lehman Brothers and the current economic crisis. Plus Neo Swee Lin ("Ah Mah" from PCK) and the Dim Sum Dollies on Obama & Hillary Clinton. And rounding it up is Selena singing all the Christmas Carols from A to Z. These were particularly entertaining, humourous and the topics were very local which we can relate to very well.
I must say, these local performers are really witty and creative. They can come up with catchy phrases and blend it into a familiar song, imitate the characters they're portraying and seemed so natural with it.
So do go and catch this show if you're interested. It'll end on the 22nd. But I know Hossan Leong is not performing on that night. Do choose a date when he's performing. His segment is really quite fun, I laugh so hard till I cried. WF commented he's quite a talented guy.
Most of the performers sang some Christmas related songs which we find them so-so. But what WF and I liked best are the 4 segments put up by Hossan Leong on 16 new ERP gantries and his dance on Mambo nights, Pam Oei's Mrs Santa who made fun of the Lehman Brothers and the current economic crisis. Plus Neo Swee Lin ("Ah Mah" from PCK) and the Dim Sum Dollies on Obama & Hillary Clinton. And rounding it up is Selena singing all the Christmas Carols from A to Z. These were particularly entertaining, humourous and the topics were very local which we can relate to very well.
I must say, these local performers are really witty and creative. They can come up with catchy phrases and blend it into a familiar song, imitate the characters they're portraying and seemed so natural with it.
So do go and catch this show if you're interested. It'll end on the 22nd. But I know Hossan Leong is not performing on that night. Do choose a date when he's performing. His segment is really quite fun, I laugh so hard till I cried. WF commented he's quite a talented guy.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Today is a Good Day
Today is a good day because:
1. I'm going for a haircut later. Its been three months since I last visit the hairdresser and my hair is in a mess.
2. WF & I are going to watch this show "Another Crazy Christmas" which boasts quite a number of famous local casts like the Dim Sum Dollies, Hossan Leong & Sebastian Tan. So we hope we are not going to be disappointed.
3. We're going to buy our roller blades tonight. WF had always wanted to learn how to blade especially when we stayed so close to ECP and there is this roller-blading friendly track in front of our place. We visited Carrefour some time ago since Jas told us they sell some value-for-money blades. The friendly promoter told us there'll be a sale in Dec. And she just sms-ed WF last night about this. Coincidentally, the "Another Crazy Christmas" will be performed at Suntec and Carrefour is just next door. So we'll pop by before the show and get our blades!! No prizes for guessing what will be my new year's resolution!
4. We finally gotten a new change of maid since the previous one didn't work out and we tolerated her for 2 weeks. I can feel everyone at home, including Ning, were relieved at this new arrival. And I seriously hope this new helper will work out for us.
5. Our dining room light had some problem for the past two nights. And I thick-skin-ly asked the condo's maintenance guy to help me fix it. He gladly agreed without any charges instead of calling the electrician.
6. Finally, booked a date to sent Lanny (the name of our car, the Mitshubishi Lancer) for servicing. I sent him for regular servicing but its just that these 2 months I needed the car so much that I had been very reluctant to send him away for 2 days. Well, I can't procrastinate any further because he's protesting by making the interior car light faulty.
7. Managed to start some spring cleaning on the kids toys. CNY is only slightly more than a month away!
8. We sent out our last batch of greeting cards this morning. One task down!
9. Manage to squeeze some time to update the blog.
10. I feel good!
1. I'm going for a haircut later. Its been three months since I last visit the hairdresser and my hair is in a mess.
2. WF & I are going to watch this show "Another Crazy Christmas" which boasts quite a number of famous local casts like the Dim Sum Dollies, Hossan Leong & Sebastian Tan. So we hope we are not going to be disappointed.
3. We're going to buy our roller blades tonight. WF had always wanted to learn how to blade especially when we stayed so close to ECP and there is this roller-blading friendly track in front of our place. We visited Carrefour some time ago since Jas told us they sell some value-for-money blades. The friendly promoter told us there'll be a sale in Dec. And she just sms-ed WF last night about this. Coincidentally, the "Another Crazy Christmas" will be performed at Suntec and Carrefour is just next door. So we'll pop by before the show and get our blades!! No prizes for guessing what will be my new year's resolution!
4. We finally gotten a new change of maid since the previous one didn't work out and we tolerated her for 2 weeks. I can feel everyone at home, including Ning, were relieved at this new arrival. And I seriously hope this new helper will work out for us.
5. Our dining room light had some problem for the past two nights. And I thick-skin-ly asked the condo's maintenance guy to help me fix it. He gladly agreed without any charges instead of calling the electrician.
6. Finally, booked a date to sent Lanny (the name of our car, the Mitshubishi Lancer) for servicing. I sent him for regular servicing but its just that these 2 months I needed the car so much that I had been very reluctant to send him away for 2 days. Well, I can't procrastinate any further because he's protesting by making the interior car light faulty.
7. Managed to start some spring cleaning on the kids toys. CNY is only slightly more than a month away!
8. We sent out our last batch of greeting cards this morning. One task down!
9. Manage to squeeze some time to update the blog.
10. I feel good!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Quick Update
Am really busy that I didn't have a lot of time to update anything.
I'm having a maid issue and we're hosting several gatherings at our place every Saturday and Sunday since 7th Dec. So I'm basically stretched.
I am so glad the Poly is having a three weeks break and our new maid is joining us tomorrow.
Update you guys when I have the time! Ciao...
I'm having a maid issue and we're hosting several gatherings at our place every Saturday and Sunday since 7th Dec. So I'm basically stretched.
I am so glad the Poly is having a three weeks break and our new maid is joining us tomorrow.
Update you guys when I have the time! Ciao...
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Little WF with his Botak Head
Zhi had his hair cut two weeks ago. And he came back with a NS type of botak head haircut. I always thought boy's haircut are no brainer. No matter what the hairstyle is, they looked the same in anyway.
I was wrong. Because the moment Papa and the maid saw his new haircut, they all exclaimed it didn't look good on Zhi. It made him look "playful", "not innocent at all" etc.
Here's a look at his photo before the haircut:
When I brought him for his haircut, here's how the conversation went:
Hairdresser: Cut his hair?
Me: Yes, short.
Hairdresser: Whole head?
Me: Yes.
And it turn out like this:
I didn't know instructions given for boy's haircut must be as specific as females. So next time I must say,"Cut short. But shorter on the sides. Armani style"
But don't you think Zhi is looking very much like WF as well? The ears, eyebrows, lips and cheeks in the second picture.
I was wrong. Because the moment Papa and the maid saw his new haircut, they all exclaimed it didn't look good on Zhi. It made him look "playful", "not innocent at all" etc.
Here's a look at his photo before the haircut:
When I brought him for his haircut, here's how the conversation went:
Hairdresser: Cut his hair?
Me: Yes, short.
Hairdresser: Whole head?
Me: Yes.
And it turn out like this:
I didn't know instructions given for boy's haircut must be as specific as females. So next time I must say,"Cut short. But shorter on the sides. Armani style"
But don't you think Zhi is looking very much like WF as well? The ears, eyebrows, lips and cheeks in the second picture.
Friday, December 5, 2008
O Christmas Tree 2008
Following last year's practice, we went to get our tree last Sunday. And because we were more experienced this time round, we managed to choose a tree that doesn't shed as much fir as last year's, not so much "lobangs" that I need to cover up and its bushier and greener.
The only problem: we did a measurement of our living room's ceiling and decided we should upgrade our tree size to 8/9feet. Last year's tree was 7/8feet and we thought it might looked small in our now higher and bigger living room.
We were too ambitious. The tree came and the tip got stuck at the ceiling. Eventually WF had to saw it off. And also, because we chose one that was bushier and larger, we thought this tree is proportionally too big for the living room. Well, we can't return the tree nor exchange for one. So we'll have to make do and hope that next year, we do not make the same mistake again.
Here are some pictures I've taken of the tree with the decorations. Because of its sheer size, there are 105 baubles/snowflakes hanging on it.
Cats, The Musical
The long running Broadway musical Cats is coming to town next year. And we are pretty excited about it, including Ning. She gets excited whenever we come across the advertisment during the 9.30pm Channel 5 news time.
Sadly, when we wanted to purchase the tickets, they had a clause that states "No admission for children under the age of 4 years old". So poor Ning will not be able to to watch the performance with us.
The thing is, we've got a Sarah Brightman's CD and of all the songs inside this CD, she love track 12 best. Its a song from the musical Cats, titled "MacCavity - The Mystery Cat". Whenever we're in the car, she'll asked us to forward to track 12 so she can listen.
I really have no idea why she likes this song so much. It sounded devilish and the song is about this cat who is a "fiend in feline shape" and a "master criminal who defy the law". She will even sing with Brightman at the last part when "MacCavity" is sung three times with a "meow" which can give me the goose bumps some times. Talk about her musical inclination.
Well, we've not told her the news that she can't come with us for the musical. And neither anyone should tell her, otherwise I'll have to do "damage control". She'll cry and yell for sure.
WF doubt she can sit through that 2hours plus of performance, so its also good that she's not going. And it'll definitely save me some $$.
If you've not bought your tickets, hurry. When we bought them last week, the tickets were already selling fast.
Sadly, when we wanted to purchase the tickets, they had a clause that states "No admission for children under the age of 4 years old". So poor Ning will not be able to to watch the performance with us.
The thing is, we've got a Sarah Brightman's CD and of all the songs inside this CD, she love track 12 best. Its a song from the musical Cats, titled "MacCavity - The Mystery Cat". Whenever we're in the car, she'll asked us to forward to track 12 so she can listen.
I really have no idea why she likes this song so much. It sounded devilish and the song is about this cat who is a "fiend in feline shape" and a "master criminal who defy the law". She will even sing with Brightman at the last part when "MacCavity" is sung three times with a "meow" which can give me the goose bumps some times. Talk about her musical inclination.
Well, we've not told her the news that she can't come with us for the musical. And neither anyone should tell her, otherwise I'll have to do "damage control". She'll cry and yell for sure.
WF doubt she can sit through that 2hours plus of performance, so its also good that she's not going. And it'll definitely save me some $$.
If you've not bought your tickets, hurry. When we bought them last week, the tickets were already selling fast.
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