Play hard 玩乐

周末加上马来人过新年的公众假期，我又休假一天，接连四天在家，赶场着玩，有点累。

周六：上午英文课，抽空去投票，下课后瀚今的同学Max来家里玩，外交官一家也过来小坐（现在正吃着越南的姜梅记流水账）。下午睡醒，去Max老爸教书的英华独立学校（是一家很好的国际住宿学校），很厉害的中国人做到系副主任。打完羽毛球，Max妈妈很能干地做出一桌美味的杭州菜，只知道杭州出美女，不知道美女原来还会煮菜，汗颜呐！

周日：上午去东海岸，有一种新的家庭车，四大两小，不亦乐乎，孩子很喜欢看水上滑板。最近不停地吃麦当劳（奇怪，我一吃麦当劳就会想起张柏芝。。。还是离了，希望两个小孩快乐）。下午去国大校友俱乐部游泳，皓俊很厉害地自己在1.4米深的池子里来回游，老爸在岸边翘脚，老妈去做桑拿。我就没这么好命，不停抱着妹妹水上水下，还摔了个屁股墩。嘉诚也呛着了水。晚上留两个宝贝在家，我们去看张学友的演唱会，哈哈，不是很内疚。。。

周一：一大早刚出门，就被老板几个电话催回家，在家里等着组员给我交报告，到下午5点才全批完。我的休假日，郁闷。。。真正做工也不过十几分钟，可等的郁闷呀！

周二：上午去艺术博物馆，公众假期门票免费，人特别多，孩子们有很多玩乐的地方，我抱着15公斤的妹妹也没有心情上楼，只在二楼匆匆看了张抗的画展，没有去三楼的吴冠中展厅。瀚今除了玩一种放棋盘做造型的游戏，就不停地画画。下午赶着和大家一起去千湖渔场（上市公司嗯），孩子们很喜欢抓鱼玩，末了，皓俊妈妈教育孩子们只能拿一条鱼回家，因为这种鱼很难养，一定会死的。。。嗯，这样的意识比较好！

A lot of play over the last few days, weekend + Hari Raya.

Sat: LiteracyPlus, a chat with friends at home. Went to ACSI in the afternoon, as Max's dad is teaching in the school, and had yummy dinner at Max's. No photo though.

Sun: Morning: East Coast, tried the slow and stable family bike, and watched water ski. Both kids liked. At the beach, Han Jin and Jia Cheng had fun, but not Mei Mei. Joined Hao Jun for swimming at NTU alumni in the afternoon.

Mon: Called by boss. waited almost the whole for the team member to submit their mid-year review... nothing to share.

Tue: Went to Singapore Art Museum. Lots of kid's activities, but didn't get to see any exhibition. Joined the circle of friends at Qian Hu fishing farm in the afternoon. Kids had lots of fun catching fish, so did adults who had to fish.


东海岸，East Coast Park



Water Play at NTU Alumni 国大玩水，为了镜头而牵手的清清和妹妹



艺术博物馆大致上是个孩子玩的地方，2楼和3楼的展厅我们都没怎么去；Singapore Arts Museum

Qian Hu Farm fishing fun; 千湖渔场，教育孩子们的皓俊妈妈

Presidential Election 总统选举

It's a first time for me to vote for a president, and it could be true for many native Singaporeans. The last President by election was many years ago, who were dearly remembered by many.

I didn't have the time to watch news, only managed to read papers on the train. So, with my limited knowledge of any of the candidates, I asked hubby for his opinion on the polling date. He has been following the news every night, and indeed provided me two names out of the four.

With the two names on hand, I tossed on my way to the polling station, couldn't make up my mind even at the time of ticking the box.

The result was out yesterday, as hubby and I checks online during family outing.

An elected President, by the people, and for the people.

十几年没有民选总统了，上两届都是在没有竞选对手的情况下蝉联。这次的四陈之战，也算得君子之战。

她来听我的演唱会

她来听我的演唱会， 在十七岁的初恋第一次约会
男孩为了她彻夜排队，半年的积蓄买了门票一对
我唱得她心醉， 我唱得她心碎

三年的感情一封信就要收回，她记得月台汽笛声声在催
播我的歌陪着人们流泪，嘿陪人们流泪
她来听我的演唱会

在二十五岁恋爱是风光明媚，男朋友背着她送人玫瑰
她不听电话，夜夜听歌不睡
我唱得她心醉，我唱得她心碎
成年人分手后都像无所谓

和朋友一起买醉卡拉ok
唱我的歌陪着画面流泪，嘿陪着流眼泪
我唱得她心醉，我唱得她心碎

在三十三岁真爱那么珍贵，年轻的女孩求她让一让位
让男人决定跟谁远走高飞，嘿谁在远走高飞
我唱得她心醉，我唱得她心碎
她努力不让自己看来很累

岁月在听我们唱无怨无悔
在掌声里唱到自己流泪，嘿唱到自己流泪
她来听我的演唱会

在四十岁后听歌的女人很美，小孩在问她为什么流泪
身边的男人早已渐渐入睡

她静静听着我们的演唱会

She came to my concert, at the first date at seventeen;

The first love queued a whole night for a pair of tickets,

spent half a year's saving;

My song made her happy, yet sad;

A letter came three years later,

withdrew the love shared;

She remembered the steam whistle at the train station, hastened her steps;

broadcasting my song, moved many to tears;

hey, moved many to tears;

She came to my concert.

Beautiful love at 25,

but the boyfriend sent roses to other girls;

She refused to answer phone calls;

spent sleepness night in my songs;

My song made her happy; yet sad;

Love doesn't seem matter for adults;

She went to Karaoke with friends for drinks;

Sang my song and teared with the MV;

hey, teared with the MV;

My song made her happy; yet sad.

True love is precious at 33;

younger girls asked her to give up the beloved;

Let the man choose whom he loves; whom he loves;

My song made her happy; yet sad;

She tried hard not to look tired;

We sang the song with no regrets while years passing on;

Sang the song till tears fell down in the applause;

hey, sang the song till tears fell down.

Women who listens to music after 40, are true beauties;

Her kids asked why she cried;

her husband fell asleep at her side;

She listend to our concert quietly.

十七岁的初恋的男孩没有带我去他的演唱会，但我相信那是因为张学友没有来西安；坐在自行车后座听他唱情网，是最初最美的邂逅；

二十五岁遇到亲爱的老公，一切开始风光明媚；145巴士最后面的座位，摇晃着从大巴窑到荷兰村，听他唱吻别，是最真最美的邂逅；

现在的三十三岁，希望不要有年轻的女孩出现，不要给他坐怀不乱的考验，在时间地点和人物都对的恋情中，一直到老；

四十岁以后，我还会听歌，还会扮美；

你还要爱我宠我，陪我听他的演唱会。

Fidgets @ Turf Club 马城儿童游乐场

On Wed, Mei's school organised an excursion to Fidgets @ Turf Club. I wondered we might be able to hold HJ's birthday party there, and searched online before hand. It was boasted as Singapore's largest and more popular indoor & party venue (directly quoted from the website).

Well, a little disappointed as the place looks quite run down. And the escalator broken down the day and all kids and parents had to walk up and down the narrow and long escalator. Not very impressed as a party venue, but Mei did have fun. She was more advanced than the time that I brought her to GoGoBambini, and is more willing to climb up and down and around and tried a number of slides. I retreated at all slides, either too steep or too high for me... coward mummy...

She was exhausted on the way back, but refused to sleep. We reached home at 1:30pm, long past her usual nap time at 12pm.

妹妹的豆豆班去位于老的赌马城的儿童游乐场，据说是新加坡最大最受欢迎的室内游乐场。有些旧陋了。 但是妹妹还是很开心，比小一些的时候更乐于尝试各种设施。

Closure 完全康复

Han Jin's last appointment after half a year of the fall which caused fracture, endured two procedures. Hurray! Everything is perfectly fine, and he indeed can become a professional tennis player if he wishes :)

We went to the doctor on Tues in the early morning, in a very light mood. We went to the Chinese Physician to get some herbs for him to have a better sleep and appetite. We then went to McDonald at Ridout for a lunch (I put down a $15 deposit for his birthday party in Oct, but still searching other options at the moment). We went home and had a long nap till 5pm.

We -> Han Jin and I. Just two of us. He obviously enjoyed the undivided attention. So did I. :)

At home, we made faces, we made muffins.

Here, We -> Han Jin, Han Yue and I. Three of us, the more the merrier. :)

拜二，瀚今复诊，完全康复，除了手臂上的疤痕，没有丝毫影响。希望那条疤痕也会渐渐变淡。孩子的恢复力极好。希望记忆中也不要有负面的痕迹。

我和瀚今看了西医，看中医（他的食欲，我的皮肤过敏），去吃麦当劳 -》两个人的幸福时光。

回家加上妹妹，更开心，做鬼脸，做点心 =》我的一对宝贝。

Jacob Ballas Children's Garden 植物园儿童区

刚放了禁令，就不写了，放一些今天的照片。

Not to break the curfew on the first day it put in place, just some photos at Children's Garden, a nice place to hang out for families with young kids. Oh, and a video of Han Jin, funny..:))

Age 年龄

On leave, I stepped into a hair salon, getting a bit bored with my curly hair which is getting frizzy after more than half a year in the same style.

Me: 'I want a rebounding.'
Hairdresser (around the same age or older than me): 'Have a seat and I have a look.'
M: 'Sure.' (no matter what you say, I wouldn't do anything more than a rebounding.)
H (release my hair and spread it out with some kind of admiration?? is that what suppose to be if a person takes pride in her work?): 'Oh, curly hair looks perfectly fine on you. It softens your features, and brings out the feminine at this age.'
M: 'I want a rebounding.'
H: 'Rebounded hair is too straight and doesn't have the volume. It's not suitable.' (at least, she didn't say not suitable for the age.)

Anyway, I was convinced and walked out the hair salon with my old curly hair, albeit, a little shorter.

Umm.. yes, my age, I'm middle-aged, rebounded girly hair doesn't suit me any more?

I admit I'm aged, reluctantly. I see my freckles more visible. I'm less energetic after a late night... blogging. If you may notice, my blogging time is after kids slept, sometimes goes into wee hours. Blogging might be a good habit, which gives me an arena to express and relax, but my blogging habit is not a healthy one.

I'm putting on a curfew on my blogging time. No later than 12mn over weekdays and no later than 1am over weekend.

Ok, putting a photo of me, at 34.5, and a photo where the camera casted a kind eye. I look worse in person.

我走进一家美发院，对我半年多不变的卷发有点厌，发质有点毛糙。

我：我要电直头发。
美发师：先坐下来，我看看。
我：好。（不管你怎么看，我也不会花更多的钱做别的服务。）
美发师：嗯，卷发挺适合你的。看起来比较柔和，能带出这个年龄的女人味。
我：（这个年龄？？）我要电直头发。
美发师：电直的头发没有味道，太平板，不适合（这个年龄？？）。

我被说服了，依然顶着我的短了一点的卷发走了出来。倒是省了钱：）

是啊，我的年龄，中年，不再适合清汤挂面的年轻女孩的直发？

虽然不愿意，承认我在变老。脸上的雀斑更明显，睡不好的眼袋也很明显，精力不如以前，手臂上也开始有斑。

要注意我的生活习惯，写博客的时间都在孩子睡后，大都超过12点，有时到2点。我要给自己放一个禁令：周日12点前睡觉，周末1点前睡觉。大家帮忙监督。

这是一张照相机对我特别好的照片。希望我40岁回来看的时候，会说：那时候还不错。。.:)

on leave 休假

Another 2 days off, just clear leave. Not really relaxed, worried about the piling up of work...

Tried some educational games/activities with Mei, who doesn't really recognise color well yet. After 2 days intensive training on colors, she pointed a fish at the aquarium at Plaza Singapura: 'Pink! Pink fish! This my fish, nobody can touch!' It is indeed pink, and it is her favorite color, a girly girl :).

Daddy took half day off on Friday. We had lunch together, pottering around Holland V, holding hands, which is the single most romantic gesture in my dictionary...

We then fetched Han Jin early, and headed swimming pool for a cooling play out.

I was trying to be color coordinated with Mei these few days. :)

修了两天的假，想要放松一下，可心底里总放不下工作上的事情，会偶尔看一下电邮，然后把头蒙在被子里做鸵鸟，不要回复。（两天至今有483封没有看的邮件，明天要死掉了，这样的状态不太好。。。）

妹妹至今还分不太清颜色，两天的集中训练，终于在一个水族馆兴奋地指着一条鱼：粉红色！粉红色的鱼！我的鱼，别人不要动！

爸爸拜五下午拿假，我们一起吃午餐，牵着手在荷兰村懒懒地乱走，太阳懒懒地烧着大地，头皮晒得木木的，我们傻傻的。。。

我们早一点接可怜的上全天课的瀚今回来，一家人去游泳。妈妈这两天尽力和妹妹穿一样的颜色：）

bags 包包

Women and bags. Women and branded bags. Why women likes branded bags?

I ever came across a blog where a husband kept a blog catalog for his beloved wife, showing all her 50 over branded bags, sorted by size, color, brand, style, for her easy browsing and selecting matching bags when necessary.

I am far from that category. I like branded bags too, but not because my fashion sense, if any, simply because I can't carry non branded bags at my age any more, especially, when I am going to work. Peer pressure in an investment bank.

My humble collection to date: Gucci, Longchamp, Coach, LV. Thanks Hui Jen for bring the first two in from London.

女人和包包，女人和名牌包包。我不知道为什么女人爱名牌包包。

我不懂得欣赏，不得已拿名牌包包也是到了这个年龄，怎么可以再拿着Guess之类的包去上班？有同僚压力呀！

不得不承认，名牌包包在一定程度上有提升自信的作用。。。

Show & Tell

Mei's school has show & tell session next Tue about family. Each kid made a card in the shape of a house, and parent is asked to write down the address and paste a family photo. The last Show & Tell, Mei brought her favorite xiao gou you (stuffed dogie toy), but I didn't prepare her at all. This time, I tried to prepare her to open and close the speech. She bursted out after opening the card " my gor gor, five years old; my daddy wears sun glasses, wears glasses; my mummy pretty; I'm cute."

Haha,, thanks, dear! I take it as a compliment.

PS: I need to take note to help Han Jin prepare whatever school asks for. I overlooked and usually just shuffles the school notes away....




妹妹的豆豆班有演说活动，每个孩子做了一个房子形状的卡，父母要填上住址和贴一张全家照，孩子下个礼拜去学校讲说。决定帮妹妹准备一下，开了头，她开始了：我的哥哥五岁了，爸爸带眼镜，妈妈漂亮，我很可爱。

哈哈，谢谢妹妹。

Moments 当下

Following the  7 moments I did earlier, I think it is good to have such a series to cherish/remember the moments in life that made me take a moment. Here is another 7 moments recently.

1. A moment of intimacy with hubby 忙碌中的亲密

Since I started blogging, he did not visit the site and kept wondering what I do staying up, until one afternoon I received an email at work 'dear, you wrote good blog, keep it up!'. He spent an hour at lunch break read my blogs. After kids slept, he joined me to have a sip of wine, and we curled up on the sofa and continued browsing through the photos and rekindled love and connection.

自从我开始写日志以来，老公被我逼着看了一次。上个星期，突然收到他的电邮，表扬我的努力，原来午餐时看我的日志，结果深深被吸引，哈哈，发现渐渐有黄脸婆迹象的老婆还是当年的四有青年？我们就这样有时候一起喝杯酒，蜷在沙发上一起看博客，在孩子睡后。。。再重申，我们先是朋友，情人，爱人，才是父母。。。

2. A moment of quietness with friend 和朋友的清茶

  

Visited a friend's place one afternoon, just Mei and myself. Mei was engrossed with the collection of toys of friend's kid, while both mums had a blink of quietness appreciating Chinese and Japanese tea.

午后，和妹妹去一个朋友家，妹妹专注地玩新鲜的玩具，两个妈妈难得清静，一壶普洱，一壶日本米茶，就着越南的姜梅，新加坡的小吃，盛在朋友精致的盘子里。。。妈妈们需要这样的小小奢侈。。。

3. A dignified moment - Redundancy

Market is in turmoil. Headlines in news projecting banks cutting staff. I didn't feel a pinch at all, until one morning, our Director called the team into her office. I noticed her eyes were red. Fighting back the tears, she announced that one of the senior VP in the team was made redundant the last Friday.

- Redundancy in a bank works the way that the impacted employee will be notified on the very same day, escorted out within a very short period of time, with personal items being collected/passed on by security staff.

- I read articles that Friday is the best day in a week to announce a bad news.

- I am touched by our Director, who I always believe is a people manager.

- All the above are my personal views, and I meant to be ambiguous and hope not violate any confidentiality rules.

那边厢全球经济震荡，这边厢各大银行裁人。一直不觉得有切身影响（除了套牢的股市），直到身边有同事被请走。凝重的片刻。

4. A moment of weakness - at work

Just for a moment, I lost my usual cool and tears tripped down. That was a mere moment of weakness in my professional life, feeling swamped. Again, I meant to be ambiguous and this is just a note for myself. I needed some deep breath and a trip to the ladies, then back to fighting breaks and mastering art of delegation.

在忙碌的工作中，我突然有一滴泪掉下来，需要深呼吸和去洗手间。我是怎么了？从来处变不惊，在工作中。只是那一刻的脆弱。不会再有。

5. Moment of memory - in life

These are the simple things that make me smile. A bowl of freshly made corn soup by hubby, resembles my childhood favorite food. A dish of lotus root with sliced pork by hubby, resembles what I used to eat at the cafeteria of the hospital I worked in.

生活中，让我莞尔的，是老公用步步高扎豆浆机做的一碗玉米糊，我儿时的记忆，商洛的主食是苞谷（玉米），面条是稀罕的，米饭是过年过节时才吃的。玉米糊营养极好，味道极好，就着加一点辣椒油的酸菜吃，极品。。。

现在就算在西安也很少吃得到。

6. Do you remember - how to jump? 你还记得怎么跳吗？

It has been months that Mei has been trying to jump. You wouldn't believe what a difficult task it is to take both feet off ground. She finally did it today, at a ripe old age of 25.5 months. Applaud from mummy, darling. Do you remember when was the last time you jumped? What we painstakingly learnt at childhood, becoming a skill that we seldom use in adulthood... Next time, jump when you are excited, want a breath of fresh air, or just feel like jumping....

妹妹练了好几个月的跳跃动作，今天终于双脚离地了！

Hurray！

7. Appreciation - helper 保姆在尽力煮菜，值得嘉奖

The problem with my helper lies with her attitude and vanity. She pulls long faces day in and day out, ignoring my existence. She wears G-strings, low cut jeans and tight fitting tops in weekdays, and hot pants etc on off day. However, I appreciate her for taking good care of my kids when I am at work, doing all the house chores that I dreaded to touch, taking over Mei when I need a break, coaching Han Jin's Kumon when my patience is up, and occasionally surprising us with a good meal.  Today she prepared Chinese pancake and Filipino desert, and made banana muffins using the newly bought oven.

表情 Emotion

In tune with the other two posts about Mei's emotional response to 'Salut d'amour' and '小兔兔乖乖', here is a pic of Mei's facial emotion over a meal.

妹妹近期表情丰富，对洋娃娃和小兔兔同情心泛溢。吃一顿饭的时间也有喜怒哀乐。。。

小女儿不爱吃水果，不爱尝试新的食物，最爱喝奶。
近期很有成就的喂了她吃葡萄。

小兔兔乖乖 crying bunny

我心血来潮要给妹妹看一些中文的动画，在iPhone的YouTube 上找到好些个经典的动画（我童年的回忆呀：）。看到‘小兔兔乖乖’，妹妹每看一次，就大哭一场，还不停的要看。哭到伤心处，要把家里的每一个小兔子抱一遍，不停的哭，还给小兔子说着什么。

一直搞不清楚她在哭什么，是怕大灰狼吗？好像不是，看到大灰狼的时候并不哭，是到了结尾妈妈回来时，好像委屈了很久放声大哭。

从昨天开始，哭了近十次了，今天晚上我要把她录下来，可是镜头前的妹妹勇敢的没有哭，虽然不停的瘪着嘴，努力的不哭。



I shown Mei some classic Chinese nursery rhymes over the weekend. There is a particular song about a bunny who stayed at home and refused to open the door to a big bad wolf, and waited till mommy rabbit coming home. Mei cried each time she watched, and insisted watching many times.

So she cried a lot times this weekend. I gathered it is not about the fear of the bid bad wolf, but rather how a little bunny has to stay at home by herself and mommy only comes back at the end of the day, because she doesn't cry when the big bad wolf comes, but only wails when mommy rabbit comes home.

My sensitive girl...

Tonight, I wanted to record her crying, but she held back her tears in front of the lens. It was only after I turned off the camera, that she couldn't hold it any more. and I took a few shots...

在镜头前用力地憋着的妹妹，在我关了录像机后终于憋不住放声大哭，没同情心的妈妈又马上开了相机。。。

Accountability 一只球

For a wonderful mum who consciously instills the right value of accountability:

* Raye played soccer with Han Jin at the playground.
* Raye did a high kick and the green ball went into fenced construction site.
* Both kids went to the construction site the next day, but couldn’t find the ball.
* Raye went to a mall with mom and used his pocket money to buy a bright new yellow ball.
* Raye didn't bring enough cash and borrowed $2 from mommy.
* Raye counted four 50cents from his piggy bank and returned mommy the $2.
* Raye passed the ball to Han Jin, which is bigger and bouncier than our old green ball.

What Raye might have learnt: accountability, disciplined saving, money sense, borrow and return, multiplication 4 times 5.

Then this mommy wants to teach appreciation at bedtime:

* I told Han Jin he needs to appreciate Raye's gesture. He asked why.
* I told Han Jin that Raye bought the ball using his pocket money. He asked 'then what'.
* I have to add more colors: so I told an imaginary story about how Raye was given $2 a day for his school lunch, he ate a plate of chicken rice costs $1.5 and had 50cents left. He can either buy a drink, or save the 50cents. He chose to save. (Han Jin asked why). While, maybe he wants to buy a Beyblade. (Han Jin: he can ask his mommy to buy.) While, he had a few Beyblade, but he wants one more and he had to buy use his own money. Then, he saved for a whole month, with no drinks. Finally, he had the money. But, bang, he kicked the ball, and had to use the money buy you a ball! Gone is his Beyblade.
* I thought he would sympathize. He laughed: what if he saved again and kicked my ball inside the construction site again?
* I got furious: Han Jin, what if it is you who kicked the ball and had to use your entire saving to compensate the other kid?
* He started to weep: I miss my green ball.
* I gave up: sleep now.

致睿和瀚今踢球的时候把瀚今的球踢去了建筑场地，拿不回来了。致睿妈妈坚持要致睿用自己的零用钱买一只球还给瀚今。这是她要教孩子责任感，存钱和理财，顺便还教数学。

我试着教瀚今体会当中的过程，和教他感谢与体恤，但怎么也不得要领。。。

Clementi Mall

We planned to meet Ping's family for a visit to the zoo today. While I went out to buy kids' food, hubby and helper locked the door with keys inside. So change of plan, we cut the trip short to Clementi Mall while helper waited for the locksmiths.

A few thoughts:

About locksmiths: costs $50 to open a lock, after which, the lock looked intact and still can be used. A profession calls for strong integrity and ethics, more so than any other professionals. I wonder how a skilled locksmiths selects an apprentice. Ethics must be on top of the list.

About Clementi Mall:

Awful external design; pleasant interior and all necessary shops; chilling air-con while my kids were in outdoor attire prepared to be in hot sun in the zoo. We didn't managed to stay long, but had a few shots.

本来是打算和胡平家去动物园的，临行发现钥匙被锁在家里了。只好安排好了开锁匠，剩下的时间就近去了新开的金文泰商场。感悟开锁匠真的是很需要职业道德的一门手艺。

The drumming cat

Mei Mei loves 'the drumming cat' from Yamaha 2, and acts to the rhythm.



However, her favorite from the album is the 'Salut d'amour (Love's Greeting)' whereby a dolly misses her little owner who now grows up and no longer plays with her, for which Mei Mei, interprets as Jie Jie misses mummy and flies to look for mummy. After each viewing, she sobs and curls up to me. 'Jie Jie's mummy come back from work already.' 'Mummy hugs Jie Jie, Jie Jie not sad anymore.'

That's probably how she relates. My lovely girl.

小女儿喜欢听哥哥雅马哈的歌，到了‘打鼓的小猫’就会手舞足蹈。可用她自己的话: 最喜欢看姐姐飞去找妈妈。那是一首叫‘Salut d’amour' 的歌， 法语，直译就是‘你好，爱’。故事情节性很强，一个可爱的洋娃娃坐在窗边，窗外的景色由春到冬，年复一年，娃娃灰色的回忆想起小主人刚收到她时抱着她，推她出去玩，抱着她睡；窗外的小主人已经婷婷地拿着公文包；娃娃飞出窗外，和很多玩具一起飞，其他的玩具飞离了地球，娃娃停了下来；穿着婚纱的主人又抱起了娃娃，娃娃的回忆变成了彩色。。。

对妹妹而言，她认为这是个小姐姐找妈妈的故事。刚开始时，每次看完都会哭，现在会缩在我身边说：姐姐找到妈妈了，妈妈下班回来了，妈妈抱抱姐姐，姐姐不哭了。。。

这是她小小心灵的体会。

Road Safety 安全

I was mad at Han Jin just now. I was mad because I love you, boy.

Finished his class at LCentral, one of the classmates waved goodbye to us, and while I urged Han Jin to bid goodbye to his classmate, he let go my hand, and cheekily ran away.

He ran up the stairs, while I was still trying to be nice to the classmate.

He made a turn and headed up another stair. I realised it leads to the main road.

I called out 'Stop!'. I screamed 'S-T-O-P'!. I dashed. I heard a voice of an auntie say :'Hey, boy!"

I ran up the stairs, caught the sight that he made a abrupt brake at the very edge of the road curb, with upper body protruding into the road.

Pulled him back, I reasoned and cautioned in a voice that I couldn't recognise myself. The auntie joined to lecture how dangerous it was and it could be.

He was taken aback, with tears whirling, 'but I stopped.'

I sat at the road side, held him in my arms for what felt like a decade.

放学接瀚今，他在我和他的同学道别的时候，挣脱我的手，跑去路边，及时刹住，但是给我很大的惊吓。。。

- 不要放脱他的手；
- 教育他路边安全；
- 告诉他不要靠近窗户。

我生很大气，因为我很爱你。

Friends 朋友

A day to meet friends.

We went for a buffet lunch at Gallery Hotel with Raye's family. The two girls are growing up together. What I learnt from Jolin today:

- bring a scissor when eat out, which comes in handy to cut the friend for little kids;
- bring something to keep the little tots occupied after they finished their meals while adults get a chance to eat. What she brought today: a coloring book set for the girls and a lego set for the boys.

国庆的午餐和致睿一家去吃河畔一间酒店的自助餐。

晚上庆祝豆豆4岁生日。Happy 4th Birthday, Zi Yan! Look at the mountains of fries I fed Mei. Cecilia Leung is definitely a good mum in my dictionary in terms of junk food.

National Day Parade 国庆庆典

Majulah Singapura! We managed to get 2 tickets this year, thanks to Wan Ying who gave up her ticket. Daddy and Han Jin went to the NDP, came back dead beat, but he commented that this should be one of the things you need to experience at least once in life, probably only once. Too crowded and too hot.

The celebration mood kicked in yesterday, while both kids need to wear National Day attire to school, while both of parents have to be absent from their school events, given it is during month end closing. To complement their attire, I dressed in red and white to work, only to find that I am the odd one.

Last note: New citizens do love this country, care for its future and have a heart to serve.

新加坡46年国庆庆典，好不容易拿到两张票，谢谢万颖让她的票给我。爸爸带了瀚今去，回来精疲力尽。但是仍然认为这是应该经历一次的活动。

新移民一直以来是个课题，放弃原来的国籍并不是感情上容易的事情，之所以会决定移民，是热爱这个岛国的，是关心它的未来的，是愿意回馈社会的。

文武双全？Han Jin Says

* Han Jin says: "Why do I need to do Kumon everyday?
* Han Jin says: "Stop scolding me!" Daddy says: "Stop beating me!"
* Han Jin asks: "What will happen if there is no water in the world?" Me: "While, all of us will die of thirsty." Han Jin: "We can drink milk." Me: "All the cow will die as well so there is no milk." Phew, feeling smart.
* Han Jin asks: "Why all the baby chicks are yellow, while mummy hen are white?" Me："....urr, I don't know. I will google." I couldn't find the answare on internet. Feeling stupid...

Han Jin is camera averse these days. So here is some video taken in Apr (reciting Chinese idiom) and in Jan (martial arts after watching Ip Man).

* 瀚今说：我为什么每天要做Kumon？
* 瀚今说：不要教训我了！爸爸说：不要踢我了！
* 瀚今问：如果世界上没有水，会怎么样？ 我说：我们都会渴死的。瀚今说：我们可以喝牛奶。我说：牛也渴死了。啊，觉得自己可以应答。
* 瀚今问：为什么母鸡是白色的，但是小鸡是黄色的？我说：呃，我不知道，我去网上查。可是网上也查不到答案。你知道吗？拜托。。。

瀚今最近不喜欢照相，这是以前的录像。四月的时候讲学校学来的成语，一月的时候模仿叶问师傅。

Waterplay 玩水

Had a busy Sat, we stayed home on Sun morning, partially due to the wet weather, to catch up Kumon worksheet, missed the fun at Ikea.

We made it up in the late afternoon! A trip to Vivocity to buy National Day attire for both kids, and had some fun at the water side. Daddy also had his dinosaur Nokia phone fixed. Talking about this, I have to praise my hubby a little on his thrift on himself and generous on kids and me; his good cooking skills; his loving father figure; his faithful spouse; his family man; his good take home pay; his filial piety; his sense of humor.... wait, it's not anniversary, not Valentine's day, not birthday. Why am I praising him? umm, need to appreciate the other half on an ordinary day! :)

忙碌的周六过去了，周日就闲闲在家里过了半日，下午才出去Vivocity玩水和买孩子们国庆庆典的衣服。哦，我们买了烤箱，我借了烤点心的书，万事具备，只欠一个爱下厨的煮妇。。。我一直想要学烤好吃的点心和蛋糕，但是真的对厨房没有一点爱。。。

School Search 小学

Following the P1 registration this year, we have to scope down the schools for Han Jin next year.

Some time ago, we made a trip to tour Nanyang Primary, the then preferred school as it is viewed as the top primary school in Singapore by many. However, the results for Nanyang is not rosy, as balloting is required even for kids staying within 1km in phase 2B. So, Nanyang is largely out of the picture for conservative me, who might not be able to weather through the tensed balloting for my children's future.

Actually, when it comes to primary, there are two school of thoughts and I see merits in both. One school advocates branded school where the children meet the right group of peers, the other believes ordinary school where your kid can shine anyway if he is the material.

Since Nanyang is out, we left Nan Hua and Henry Park, and we paid a quick visit to both this Sat morning.

Nan Hua: squarish layout (am I viewing property?), Chinese culture, beautiful fish pond, impressed by the Chinese poems on the corridor arch. A little run down, pretty noisy as it is along MRT line.

Henry Park: quiet, relatively new with a modern finish. Irregular layout hence might be hard to find your own classroom. Had a hard time to find the washroom when Mei needed to pee. Can you spot the washroom hidden in a zoo?

Nanyang: a pic from the Internet. Great landscape and building nested in a quite surrounding, strong Chinese atmosphere, seems to have the combined merits of Nan Hua and Henry Park, but it is a school out of reach.

我们心仪的三所小学：
- 南华：可能性90%如果我们搬家
- 恒力：可能性99.99%如果我们搬家
- 南洋：可能性60%如果我们搬家

怎么办？

南华门廊上的唐诗，恒力隐蔽的洗手间，南洋的建筑

Child free gathering 清酒

Thanks to Chen Ni (at the corner of the photo with a glass of lime juice), who arranged a weekend gathering for the 5 families on Sat, we gathered at a cozy restaurant run by a couple, husband being the chef who is Japanese while wife is a Nonya who serves Sake in a Japanese style.

We left all kids and maids at Chen Ni's, enjoyed a meal with no screams, on the Chinese Valentine's day, and on a backdrop of S&P downgrading US Treasury bills. A number of us are trading stocks, so not really a good time to celebrate, but we kept the spirit high, especially with the delicious food and the delicate Sake.

As it happened to be Chinese Valentine's day, I took photos of each couple, happily married. Chen Ni is by herself, while Sin Wee is in London on  a 6-month business trip. She is a wonderful wife, and a wonderful friend. Salute!

The Sake took the center place in the picture as I really love it. It probably will become the next favorite of mine besides wine, in the range of drinks. I hope I can find the exact fragrance in a market.

拜六，音乐课后，我们聚在一家颇有私房菜意味的小餐厅，店面不大，我们九个人占去了大半个店，老板是日本人，老板娘是小娘惹，服务生像是自家的孩子，菜盛在精美的盘子里，清酒放在玻璃杯里。

• 贞霓提前预定位子和点菜，老板不是每天开店，仿佛做的不是生意，是心情；
• 孩子们和保姆们留在了贞霓家，几步之遥，有炸鱼香肠BeyBlade, Barney, 也是不亦乐乎；
• 很久没有单独吃饭了，适逢七夕，牛郎织女估计也放下扁担，过一下二人世界了；
• 只是S&P刚刚宣布降低美国国债的信用评级，周五已经大跌的股市，来临周一不知道会怎么样。。。
• 喜欢上了清酒，像是多了醺醺感的醪糟，米酒的清香。以前也喝过，只不过这次经过老板娘的手，多了味道，希望在超市里可以买得到这样的不烈的清香。

谢谢贞霓!

当下 moments

佛说，当下。活在当下，过去和未来只是时空上的概念，原来这个理念是起源于佛陀？

珍惜当下，以下记录这个礼拜七件让我停留脚步，体会当下的时刻。不知道七在佛教里是否是个特别的数字，我总觉得七是个有灵性慧根的数字。

I chanced upon a Buddhist saying on 'Moment' which I couldn't locate or remember the exact words. 'Cherish the current moment, be grateful of what life has given, live each moment with an appreciative heart'. This was what I believe, meanwhile, I didn't know it was the wisdom of the Buddha.

The 7 moments of this week, where I stop, inhale the fragrance of THE moment.

 * A piece of Jazz on the way to facial at Paragon. Live music by Martin Elias Reyes in the podium of Paragon with grand piano. Many shoppers stopped, listened, applauded. This is probably why Paragon is the high end shopping center. Music En vogue. A moment of peacefulness.

拜三下午休息，我难得的兼职安排，从最初对这个面部护理的沮丧，到现在接受事实，决定去享受既然已经不可以改变的事实。于是很平静的呼吸，踏进百利宫，听到抒情的爵士乐，伴着大钢琴的音质，在百利宫里绕梁。其实这里几乎每天中午都有现场的音乐，只是今天的心情特别平静，准备好了去体会当下。- 平静的当下。




* After the facial, a cup of hot ginger tea, on a raining day; a bowl of red bean soup in white china. The white china in smooth curve, reflecting lights and entice returning customer, which I am not one of those. This place is still out of my lead, probably for quite a while in life. Nonetheless, appreciate it. A moment of indulgence.

做完护理，一杯热的姜茶，在一个下雨天，窝在让我显得弱小的大沙发里，还有一窝不甜腻的红豆沙，装在流线弧度的白色细瓷里。不去管商家的用心，这一刻，我只想享受慵懒。 - 慵懒的当下。




* It was what Han Jin said 'raining dogs and cats' on Thursday morning. Daddy called the whole family for a stop at the road side, to watch a giant snail embracing the rain. It stretched out of the shell, crossing the metal grill on the drain carefully, and happily enjoying the morning rain. Four of us watched it crossing the drain. Snail isn't quite as slow as I thought. A moment of discovery.

拜四早上下着瓢泼大雨，瀚今开心的重复英文里的大雨（直译就是下猫下狗）。爸爸叫住我们，看路边一直胖胖的蜗牛过水沟。我想象它是快乐地享受着毫不吝啬的雨和无人打扰的静。那种在雨打芭蕉中的静，那种忽略周围一切变动，向内看的静。原来蜗牛并不如我想象中的慢。 - 发现的当下。

 * Reached home at 7:20pm on Friday. Caught Han Jin and Mei at the lift who were going to LCentral. Joined them. Returned home. To my great surprise, my helper made curry chicken and bun for the first time in the 3 years she's with us. Ha, hidden skill! Fabulous tasty curry, and original Chinese bun. More to it, I gathered the courage to knock my neighbour's door and shared the food with the Grandpa next door. Sally asked me to keep an eye on Grandpa while the rest of the family went to Malaysia for a stay over. I touched his trembling hand when passing over the bowl. Grandpa is in 70s, I believe. My kids greet him every time passing his window, a few times a day, within me lifting Mei up so that she can meet Grandpa's eyes. Kids and me love the feeling of having a Grandpa nearby. - A moment of sharing.
拜五晚上下班，在电梯口遇到一对小儿，来不及回家，穿着三英尺的高跟鞋抱着14公斤的妹妹去送瀚今上学习班。回来，惊喜发现保姆煮了咖喱鸡和馒头，地道的不加糖的馒头。这里外面买的包点全是甜甜的皮，当时沿海一带的口味，所以什么都不加的馒头是好久没有吃过了。敲了邻居的门，在钢筋水泥的快节奏中，敲邻居的门其实是需要一点勇气和冲动的。Sally一家去了马来西亚过周末，爷爷一个人在家，递过那一碗咖喱鸡的时候，爷爷老迈的手有点抖 （不是我在煽情，是老人家不自主神经的抖，我婆婆以前有一阵子也这样）。我的一对小儿每天经过爷爷窗口时都要打招呼，一天几次，每次一定要抱起妹妹，她看得到爷爷才开心。我们自己的两个爷爷都不在身边，小儿和我都喜欢这样有一个就近的人可以叫爷爷。- 分享的当下。

* Friday morning, rushed to office, noticed something on my desk. Rushed to an interview. Back to my desk. A nicely packed gift from Monica, a colleague from another department who dropped by the day before and noted my family photo on my desk. She packed something for my little girl. We have been working on a project together, great working relationship, but usually I do not expect a personal touch. Wrote a line on email, deleted. Picked up the phone and said thank you. Monica: Hope that the small gift will make the day for your girl. Oh, dear, it definitely made my day. A moment of appreciation.
拜五清早到了办公室，急着去面试新人，回来才发现一个可爱的小礼包。Monica，另外一个部门的同事，我们在一个项目上有合作，前一天她来我的位子看到我家人的照片。一个可爱的小礼包送给我的女儿。一般在公司不期待私人水平的交流，所以会感动。写了电邮，删掉了，拿起电话说谢谢。- 感谢的当下。

* On way to work, noticed an orchid growing in a tree, a common sign in Singapore. However, it touched me this time, maybe because the lively green and purple tenaciously growing.  A moment of life.
上班的路上，发现了一簇长在大树上的胡姬花，在热带里很常见的景色，让我驻足，可能是因为鲜艳的绿色和紫色还有顽强乐观的生命。- 生命的当下。

* Han Jin's newly shaved head, by me. The point is not that I saved $10, though I am happy about it too. It was a family time, with Daddy, Han Jin and I. We simmered the moment, just three of us with a lot of laughter. A moment with my first born.

瀚今新剃的头，我剪的。他已经在理发院剪了近一年。愿意给我理，很荣幸的。这一刻，只有爸爸妈妈和瀚今。妹妹睡了，妹妹现在经常是注意力的中心，对妹妹我从来只有妥协。所以我珍惜这一刻，和我的大儿子。- 家人的当下。

Esplanade 榴莲壳

Jia Cheng did not come to our place for the past 2 weeks. So I need to plan something for the whole family to go together, and for the family outing to be attractive to youngster as well. I was an awkward and introvert girl in my teenage years and I want to make it easier for him to feel welcomed. Maybe I am still introvert even now, so that I might not have displayed the level of warmth what I thought would be overwhelming .

There is age gap, I think. I don't really know what a young guy is interested in. Hubby suggested Esplanade. So here we are.

这个拜天我们去了滨海艺术中心（外形像极了榴莲），嘉诚应该还是第一次去。他每天认真学习，很少出去走走。看看嘉诚的照片，和瀚今细心牵妹妹的手过一条小溪。

P1 registration - update on phase 2C

29 Jul 2011

- Nanyang, Phase 2C vacancy is 30, 53 children registered.
- Nan Hua, Phase 2C vacancy is 28, 84 children registered.
- Henry Park, Phase 2C vacancy is 30, 68 children registered.
- Fairfield, Phase 2C vacancy is 49, 56 children registered.

1 Aug 2011

Depressing news: all 4 schools need to ballot for children stay within 1km.

I will let this topic cool for a while, simmers in, then decide what to do with it.

The shortest entry ever, but I really have no much to say.

Ok, maybe just add a bit color since I am still not sleepy after finishing design the flyer for a charity event that our RC is organising.

On the way back, Han Jin popped up another Chinese idiom learnt from school: 为非作歹(to commit all sorts of crimes). Then he asked me what is the meaning. I replyed 'I don't know' in the hope that he would suggest the answer.

'How come you don't know? 你是中国人neh?'

Daddy asked: '妈妈是中国人，你呢？'
HJ: I'm Singaporean. 
Me: 你也是中国人。
He smiled sheepily into Daddy's chest.

Thanks to the school's education. My son now thinks that he is Singaporean, though by nationality he is. But I indeed want him to be proud of his origin and rich culture comes with it.

孩子的身份认知有点混乱，特别是在这个华人社会。我希望他们能以有中国的根源而谦虚地自豪，并且继承传统文化。