Christmas 2009

I have been so lagging in posting my blog that CNY is already round the corner yet I have not put up the posts I had wanted to on Christmas last year.

Oh well... better get this started and I can start on the CNY.

This year, as usual, we had a few gatherings held at our place. And the usual fun and laughter filled the house with an even TALLER Christmas tree. I don't quite understand, every year, we keep getting a tree that is taller and taller even though we've always been browsing at the 8 to 9 feet section. I supposed, the florist just did an estimation for these trees. When the tree arrived, it got stuck at the ceiling and we had to saw the tip off. So much so that I can't put up the stars. Nevertheless, it is still a sweet-smelling tree after all.

Ning's school got the kids to do a lot of Christmas decorations for their art and craft sessions. And she proudly brought them back to decorate the tree. I taken the pictures of her craft work to share in this blog. She's definitely very proud of the Snowman she did and also the Christmas card she wrote for her teachers.

Our New Home Cleaning Equipment - ENJO

Some of you may know, I have been using this set of cleaning equipment from Austria for the past half year. The brand is called Enjo (pronounce as en-yo) and it was recommended by my poly colleagues who had been using for 5 years and one year respectively. They knew about me getting up at 5.30am to do housework and thought this set of cleaning equipments will not only help me save time, but money as well.

The distributor came down to my place and did a demo. And I thought these equipments were simply amazing. Using only little amount of water, I get to clean my entire house, from the floor to the windows. Even the oil stains on the stove were easily removed.

I think the guy who invented Enjo is one genius. It not only help me save water (our water consumption is down by at least 30%), I don't have to buy anymore cleaning detergents and it also saves the environment by not dumping too much toxic waste from the cleaning agents.

I've recommended this to some of my friends and they thought the products were amazing too. Interestingly, one dinner, I had a bad burnt stain (see picture) in my slow cooker base. And if those of you who wash the dishes, you'll know how hard it is to get rid of such stains. And you can't really use a lot of water coz the wire is sticking out of the pot base. WF thought it is a really good time to test the Enjo products and see if it really works. After two wipes and we have a clean and shiny cooker back (see the slide show)! What more can I say?

If any mummies who're tired of cleaning and scrubbing, you can email me if you're interested. Cleaning is so much easier, just ask my maid.

Bento Making - My New "Hobby"

I always tell my friends that I have such short attention span for many interests. First it was baking, well, that lasted pretty long. Until 2009, somehow I lost interest in it. Then for a short while, I self-studied French and that didn't last long coz it was such a lonely journey listening to the CD again and again. Then it was Christmas card making in 2008 and I didn't even do a single card in 2009. Roller-blading... my 2009 New Year's resolution and now 2010, I still can't roller-blade, let alone taking out the blades from the box for the past 6 months!!!

I can't remember what other "hobbies" I have but they definitely didn't sustain my interests for long.

Now I have a new interests and I hope this will carry on for as long as the kids go to school. Its bento making.

My colleague and I got really excited about the idea of packing bentos for our kids to school and inspired by some really pretty pictures posted by friends on Facebook and their blogs, we set about getting all the necessary equipments from Daiso (see pictures) and of course, thinking of creative ideas to "dress up" an otherwise boring rice and vege lunchbox.

I've taken some pictures of my new "adventure" and Ning was all excited about it as well. Whenever possible, she'll helped me punch those seaweed shapes and finished the "hole-y" seaweed for me. Sadly, Zhi didn't take an interest in eating the bento. One look and he was all grumpy. I supposed this is too "girly" for a boy?

Ning the Ballerina

Ning had been asking me to sign her up for ballet classes for the past half year. She gets really envious of the pretty girls in their pink dresses practising the movements every time we walk past the dance studios when she goes for her music classes.

Luckily, Crestar launched a few ballet classes in Jan and one of the class timing suited us. So off she went for her dance classes and she was all so excited when I got her the shoes and skirts. Of course, for memory keepsake, we quicky took out the camera and asked her to strike a pretty pose.

I hope her interest for ballet will last coz those items she's wearing isn't cheap!


Striking a very "un-ballerina" pose

Ning's Church Memory Verse Recital

Our church had a Christmas celebration every year. And for this year's celebration, Ning went up to stage to recite the bible verse for the theme before the sermon was delivered.

I took a video of her, though I find that her posture can be further improved. And somehow, she spoke rather softly over the mike that those seated at the back couldn't really hear her, so was this video. What she had recited was projected on the screen behind her, so you can read what she's actually saying.



Luke2:14.AVI

Indoor Stadium Bridge

This bridge is definitely one famous one. TCS likes to film their dramas here and so are the outdoor bridal photo shoots. We've met quite a lot of couple taking their bridal pictures here over the 1.5years stay.

And the 3rd most popular event would have to be this:


When someone bought a new car. These car owners will drive up the pavement and take pictures of their beloved new addition. No wonder some men call their cars their 'wife'.

Thankfully, WF is not so crazy enough to do such things...

Maid Woes

I mentioned in my previous entry that our maid is supposed to come on last Thursday. Well, unluckily, it didn't happened and I am currently managing the housework and the numerous parties/gatherings that we're hosting these two weekends.

We've always heard so much stories about having a maid at home and how some of them turn out to be more of a headache than a help. I definitely have my share of stories in this topic.

But have you heard of stories on hiring maids? We just encounter not one but three such incidents of hiring a helper.

Some of you may know, WF and I made an agreement to get a helper in December for various reasons. I had opted to do without a helper, but WF thought otherwise. So I gave him my word that we'll get one by year end to help us over the festive seasons as well as the moving next year.

So in end Nov, we went to the agency to get a helper. And eventually we selected our first one with rather good experience but currently in Indonesia (she went back after contract ends). She didn't make it to S'pore eventually. Because the work permit application was rejected by MOM. And my agent found out that she's blacklisted (and probably a police case) which she didn't declare to the agency at all.

Then we selected a second one. She was working in an Indian household and the ma'am was rather demanding and slapped her. She cried and called the agency and told them she don't want to work there anymore and to look for a new employer for her. So we thought she was a good fit, given her experience. We even called her previous two Chinese employers who gave her rather good references. Sigh... One day before she's supposed to come over, she changed her mind! She had a talk with her Indian employer and the ma'am promised to lower their demands etc. So she decided to stay. I almost flipped and had to re-sign all the documents because the work permit had already been issued!!

If you think twice is enough, then it happened to me the THIRD time. The third one was one real smart and smug lady. She was fluent in Mandarin as well as English. Extensive experience with Chinese family but she left them after 7years due to stagnant pay and nil off days. SIX hours she's supposed to come over, she changes her mind (too!). She told the agent she wants to go back to her previous employer and her employer is willing to pay her $450 with 1 off day. I flipped and counter proposed $450 with 2 off days. Two days later and this is what she told the agent, word for word," I go and work for my old employer, if I not happy, then I go and work for the new employer."

I must be a crazy idiot to employ her or even to wait for her...