2009-12-31

Happy New Year!!

I can forsee the year ahead is going to be super busy and stressful...

company's account backlogs,B2 entering into "terrible twos" soon and attending playgroup,B1's stressful school life,addicted to iphone and getting more rebellious...

stressed...and need lots of good luck

2009-12-29

Changi Airport Terminal 3 promotions

GST absorbtion,Magic ball with prizes,bouncing castle,Go Kart at B2 car park....

2009-12-27

Jesper's 18th Birthday

Isn't his birthday cake cool?

2009-12-22

Fred Farrugia make up-From Sephora Singapore

http://www.fredfarrugia.com/#/en/range

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86696&id=105624239158

Read about this cool make up kit in Jan2010's Simply Her. The First Kit cost $30(comprising a mirror,lid and a pouch),and the Full Kit(includes tiny brushes) cost $80. During the promotion,for limited period, if you purchase 3 palette, you get to buy the First Kit at $5 only.

Got to head down to Sephora to check it out!

B2's 4th trip to the Zoo

Rainforest Kidzworld is now opened,with bigger stable, bigger Wet Play area, a kampung house, Horse Carriage Ride,Pony Ride,Wild Animal Carousel (at extra charge),a toy & souvenir shop. The shop also sells sunblocks,swimming costumes, towels etc.

There is no more playground at the new kidzworld, which is quite dissappointing.

Boat ride is also in operation now. New Ah Meng Cafe outside the Zoo sells kopi,toast,laksa,nasi lemak etc,which is good for those sick of pizza and eating at KFC.

http://www.zoo.com.sg/images/innova_images/New%20Zoo%20map%2017_A_path.jpg

After our dinner at KFC, we walked over to Night Safari, and manged to catch the performance at its Entrance Plaza.

2009-12-21

Hong Kong-Acid Throwing Incident now in Causeway Bay

Shocked to read that the latest acid throwing incident's now in CWB, in Lockhart Road behind Sogo! Six people were injured, two in serious condition.

As we always stay in Excelsior Hotel in CWB whenever we visits Hong Kong, we have to walk on the pedestrain walkway along Lockhart Road every day during our stay.

That area is so packed with people at night during weekdays and all day on weekends,even late at night, since the shops there close late.

I really hope their police could catch the culprit soon, or I won't feel safe going to Hong Kong next year!

Too close for comfort...

No, this is not B2's little boyfriend,but he's definitely very very fond of B2! Hold her hands and walk together,hug her,touch her, kiss her...

After a while B2's not very comfortable,and started "avoiding" him,but he never give up..

Then suddenly we heard a loud "bang", all the daddies and mummies screaming. then the two started crying and yelling.

He's so close to B2 than she fell backward, knock on the back of her head.His whole body on her, and probably also knock against her face!

BTW, this boy, Edbert, is hb's niece's son( or his grand nephew).And he's supposed to call B2 Aunt Bertina,even though she's 6 months younger.

Berenice;s 9th birthday party at Ben & Jerry's






Organising birthday party for kids born in June or Dec is never easy. Sent out invitation card before school holidays, you'll find that those RSVP that they will attend never turned up, or some totally forgotten about the party, or remembered the wrong details.

So this year we decided to organize a small party for B1 at Ben & Jerry's. Small in terms of no.of guests, but not so for the cost, at $40 /pax.

The two ladies handled the kids very well at the party.Taking into consideration the younger one, who couldn't really play the games, and the older one, who find it awkward to "perform" as a "punishment".

One major problems with Ben & Jerry's party- Communications! After hb enquired over phone and emailed the person-in-charge, we didn't hear from her, nor did she inform the staff at Ben & Jerry's outlet. When I went there to make payment for deposits, the staff seems totally clueless.

As the party is from 12pm - 2pm, we wanted them to serve light finger food.I was told that nuggets and hot dogs etc will be served, but the kids were not served during the party. We felt bad to explain to the kids parents' that the kids were not given "food" during the party!

The staff "explained" that the PIC told hb that the extra food cost addtional $10/pax, and hb didn't give confirmation to inlcude... No point to argue further.Anyway, when I emailed her the guest list, and requested her to acknowlege, either by email or sms/call to me, I didn't get any acknowledgment as well.

2009-12-18

Packed Soup Reviews-Simply Her Dec09

Get this Olympus MJU7010 digital camera

My old Sony Cybershot is not good at shooting night scenes,fireworks and probably some others that I've not explored. When I disabled the auto flash,the image is also not very sharp.

Went to Courts, and the SA recommended Olympus MJU7010.At $378 List price $398,but he said he can give me discount),and additional battery and 4GB memory card, it seems like a good deal for a 12MP.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2009/09/19/Olympus-mju-7010/p1

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/digitalcameras/0,39030233,49303614,00.htm

It' heavier and thicker than Sony TX1, not as sleek and chic, even the pink is not as sweet,but it's still a reasonably good looking compact camera.

What attracted me is the 7xoptical zoom, wide lens,the various scences mode,and of course its price.

Last night Hb's saying don't know what to get me for X'mas .May be this?

2009-12-14

Best way for a dad to love his kids? Love their mum

http://www.divaasia.com/article/6221

Mon, Nov 23, 2009
The Straits Times
Best way for a dad to love his kids? Love their mum

It is time the community had meaningful family organisations such as Fathers Action Network (FAN), whose chairman, Mr Richard Seow, its members and sponsor, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), make a pre-eminent team leading fathers to fulfil their responsible role as head of the household.

Parenting is tough and requires the courageous to commit their time, lives and money to building and protecting the family unit.

Yet, in many marriages, couples are finding it a challenge to keep the love alive, let alone rekindle the flames of fatherhood.

Without help, many will find their marriage vows hard to keep and fatherhood difficult to live out.

While the ideal image of the family is that of a highly successful father with a capable home-maker wife and wonderful children, the reality is far from the ideal.

Married couples are divorcing at a younger age and infidelity is not uncommon among married men. Children suffer most when their parents choose to go their separate ways.

Hence self-help groups such as FAN must offer practical solutions to build strong family relationships.

In my view, these three traits are important in cementing family ties:

  • The best way for a father to love his children is to love their mother.
  • A sensible father rejects vices such as gambling, irresponsible drinking and womanising.
  • A courageous father ensures that his children learn respect for authority, frugality and industry.

Thank you MCYS for your untiring efforts in building meaningful family relationships in the community.

George Lim

This article was first published in The Straits Times

2009-12-11

Kose Beauty Simulator




Kose Esprique Beauty Simulator


You could upload your own photo,and see how their make-up look on you!


Have fun!


2009-12-09

PSLE results, affiliated schools...

Hb's niece got 229 for her PSLE,had a hard time choosing her 1st choice Secondary school.Her "targeted" River Valley High has entry cut-off of 250+,which is out-of-reach for her.

Her mother,my hb's sis-in-law now regretted NOT choosing affiliated schools 6 years ago! Methodist Girls School needs only 220 to apply for affiliated primary school, compared with 253 for non-affiliated primary schools.

Now,this is the mother who went all out to get her child in her current school, even bought an apartment within 1km,(but never stayed in this place,it's been rented out) just to make sure her child has higher chance to get into this school, which she said is a SAP School,that teaches Higher Chinese right from Primary 1.Anyway, she didn't take Higher Chinese in her PSLE.Her teacher advised her to switch to normal Chinese,or she'll pull down her overall marks even more.

I am quite interested to knjow about the posting system's criteria. Priority given to 1st choice.or T-score? Affiliated or T-score? I read about different informations from different sites,not sure which is true.

New passport

Applying and collecting passport is a breeze nowadays.

Made application and paid online.Done within 3 working days.Made e-appoinment to collect.

It's so easy to make e-appoinment and colelct. Scan the notice/IC, then collect at the counter,everything done in less than 15 minutes. I thought it's going to be a long wait,and tore a 1-hour parking coupon, what a waste!

ICA building should have electronic parking system, and do away with parking coupons totally.While I took shorter than expected to get it done, there are people who took longer time, and have to run down to tear more coupons.

Passports have to renew every 5 year,not 10 years,and the number is different from our IC number. Heard from the staff that it's for "security" reasons, and the number will be different every time we renew!

There is a babycare room on the second floor, with a collapsible changing station, a sink, and three chairs,but the door is NOT locakable.

2009-12-08

B2's first Barney show at United Square

B2 enjoyed watching the Barney show at United Square very much.Dancing and singing her familiar songs like "I love you".

B1's marathon sleep after 3D2N camp

B1's had her marathon sleep after she's back from her 3D2N GB camp in school.

From about 3pm to 1.40am, she slept through without waking up for bath or dinner. at 1.40am then she woke up and started asking,"how come I never eat anything?"

She said she slept at 12am on first night, and 3am on the second night,and had supper at 2am!

I thought they would have regular and very disciplined life in camp,say going to bed(which is sleeping in sleeping bag in school's hall). Never expected her to have only 3hour sleep on the last day.

2009-12-07

Curry Fish Head


Curry Fish Head
Originally uploaded by VANnBER

I always crave for curry fish head,fish head hot pot and BBQ sting ray on a chilly night...

This is what I had on 5 Dec 09,a cold night.


Curry Fish Head from Blk 253,Choa Chu Kang.Xiang Gang Jie Hua Ji xiao chu

At $17,it's a complete meal by itself,with the fish head and lots of vegetables,including, cabbage,tomatoes,lady's fingers,brinjal,tau pok,and even tau kee.

2009-12-06

Teen with H1N1 left to fend for herself...

Hb and I couldn't believe it when we read this story...

The mother is 45 years old, while the father is 52 years old.They moved out immediately and didn't even dare to bring food for her.

Even her friends offered to bring food for her...

Student Laura Lee, 15, has been left alone to battle the H1N1 virus at home for almost two weeks.

Her parents moved ut of their three-room flat in Ang Mo Kio to stay with relatives, leaving her to fend for herself. The reason: Fear.

So afraid are they of being infected that they won't even bring food to their only child. They stay in touch by calling her on the phone every day.

Reluctant to leave home because she doesn't want to risk infecting others, Laura has been surviving on only instant noodles and plain porridge.

Looking for friendship? Companion? or ?????errr....

Hb and I are quite shocked to see this note in our letter box.

We just hope that it's not someone trying to "do business" here. :<

B1's first overnight 3D 2 N camp

Not sure if it's applicable to all P5 students, but at least I know nephew and niece's school has overnight camp in school for all P5 students.

B1 has chance to go for overnight camp in school at P3,thanks to her CCA-Girls' Brigade.

Made her pack her stuff herself.Borrowed a sleeping bag from cousin,out she went for her camp, with a backpack wider than her waist!

We must have missed her so much that every time we went out for food,we'll delibrately drove past her school to see if we could spot them.

Today, at 11am, after our breakfast at Bt Timah Food centre, we drove pass her school again, and saw the girls,including B1 walking towards MRT station, going for their Amazing Race!

We hope B1 could be more independent,less picky about food,and learn to appreciate the comfort of her home more after this camp.