Don't mess with me

Sometimes I feel I need to write down the things that Tobey does and say. I find it really hard to remember those little things he says, which are at times very funny. I wish I will remember this growing process.

A little update on Tobey. He was made the class discipline monitor. I am glad he was given this experience. He learnt that everyone has different personalities and how difficult it is to manage people's behaviour and gaining their respect. These are such important life skills. And I must say he is doing a good job...I hope :). He was hit the other day because another boy refused to listen to him. So cute when he comes home and ask me, "Mommy, what should I have done?"

To the Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday, Dear. You are the greatest!

A little boring but snuggly pressie from me to you. :) I hope you enjoyed our trip this evening.

Singapore wins bid for 2010 Youth Olympic Games

Singapore is really reaching out for the stars...where will I be? Vancouver or Singapore, that's the question. Let's see how things go...


Singapore will host the first Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

The Southeast Asian city-state of 4.5 million people beat out Moscow in a vote of the International Olympic Committee. The result was announced Thursday by IOC president Jacques Rogge during a ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a postal ballot of IOC members, Singapore defeated the Russian capital 53-44.

Singapore has never hosted a major international multi-sports event but held a sentimental edge over Moscow. The IOC was eager to reward a city that might never be able to stage the full Olympics.

"We dared to dream, we worked hard to pursue our dream despite the odds, and now the dream will become a reality," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

The Youth Games will feature about 3,200 athletes aged 14-18 competing in 26 sports. The event, to be held every four years, is designed to encourage youngsters to get involved in sports and spend less time in front of computer and television screens. The first Winter Youth Olympics will be in 2012.

"It's a great honor and privilege for all of us, for Singapore and every Singaporean," Lee said. "For the first time, the 'Olympics' name will be in Southeast Asia, and in Singapore. We will be the focus of a new era of sports development for Singapore, for Southeast Asia and for the Olympic movement."

Lee spoke at a public gathering in Singapore that included about 5,000 students from 90 schools, most of whom were decked out in red and were assembled at a large field in front of the downtown City Hall to listen to the result from Lausanne.

"We worked very hard for seven months," Lee said. "It was a national effort, but more than that, it was a people's effort.… Now, the countdown to 2010 begins. We have 2½ years to prepare for the Youth Olympic Games. It's going to be challenging, but it's going to be full of excitement and achievements."

Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympics, and Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi was picked last year to stage the 2014 Winter Games.

Singapore, with a games budget of $75 million, will use 24 venues, including one large cluster for 13 sports. Nineteen of the venues already exist, four would be built as temporary facilities and one is under construction for equestrian.

Singapore and Moscow made the final list after the elimination of Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Turin, Italy; Debrecen, Hungary; Guatemala City; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Poznan, Poland.

"The Youth Olympic Games are the flagship of the IOC's determination to reach out to young people," Rogge said. "These games will not only be about competition. They will also be the platform through which youngsters will learn about the Olympic values and the benefits of sport, and will share their experiences with other communities around the globe."

Source: The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2008/02/21/world-youth-olympics.html

Zhai Shen Tao Ni De Da Meng Kou "The Deity of Prosperity Arrives At Your Front Door"

Speechless. Very Speechless. Still Very Speechless.

Hello Kitty and Me

This is what I got for my valentine's day gift. Amazing or crazy? I don't know! I got literally wrapped up like a "ba-chang" (Chinese for rice dumpling). You should see the process of putting this thingy (a yukata and obi) on. I am literally at the mercy of them, after they learnt it from the salesman in 15 minutes. But amazingly, it managed to look like one...

There are some things I learnt about wearing the yukata too...

TS (to the salesperson): Are you sure the ribbon is not in front?
SP: You have to tie it in front then turn the whole ribbon to the back, if you place it in front, it means you are a er....pro..you know what I mean?

Then reality hits me, when am I going to wear it? TS had some brilliant ideas...

1) wear it to one of these Japanese schools nearby, heard they are having some open house day where they will all go in their traditional costumes.
2) International friendship day
3) Racial Harmony Day
4) National Day
5) Mama shop downstairs
6) Macdonald's opposite

Very funny. Thanks, but, no thanks...maybe you and Tobey should get a costume too and we can do this together.

Valentine's at Keppel Bay Marina

We were lucky to get a seat in this small TCC outlet at Keppel Bay. Many who walked in had to be turned away on Valentine's Day. This is one of the rare Valentine's that we actually ate out. Usually we would just celebrate it on another day cos everywhere is either fully booked or prices are an overkill.

It was such a delightful dinner from start to finish with Tobey and TS. I had to guess my present before my dinner so I would not be deemed as a "loser". Luckily, I did guess it under my breath at the last moment. Tobey was so shocked and said, "Mommy, you are so smart!" So cute. I was not expecting "this" to be the gift. Although it is something I would like to have, er, when am I going to use it??? But of course, I am really happy at the effort TS and Tobey put in to for my Valentine's Day, a day to remember. After that, Tobey was so happy too, cos it means he passed and he would be getting his 2 Valentine's Day presents!

Keppel Bay Marina is such a beautiful place, I must say, is one of the most beautiful parts of Singapore. Overlooking Carribean the condominium, it feels like another world here. The scenery is fanastic and makes us feel like getting a unit at the Carribean. Of course, the prices are also very fanastic. The food wasn't so good, but service and the company was great!

Thank you TS and Tobey!

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY (Belated) VALENTINE'S DAY!

It is one of the most memorable Valentine's Day I have had. TS has been rather strange lately and did many things that surprised me. The best part was I received a gift that totally out of this world (both figuratively and literally). The sweetest thing was he went shopping with Tobey to get this gift. It is the sweetest thing he has done...or no, maybe he needed the help of my spy because Tobey knows my taste incredibly well!

After they bought it, they had a treatise. Tobey is well known for not keeping secrets. So TS had to silence him. How? He promised Tobey TWO V-day presents IF he do not reveal anything. All he can reply is, "I don't know", "I cannot tell". Of course, it was a good deal for Tobey (2 presents = 2 pokemons prancing in his head), so it worked for him.

I was given hints to guess what it is, but if I cannot guess it before dinner on V-day, I am a loser. I was determined NOT to be a loser, but did I? Anyway, can you guess what it is? All I can say is I AM SHOCKED at the gift I received. SHOCK beyond words.

They gave me these clues:

1. Moi will like to have it although it is not a neccessity
2. It comes in many different parts that can be pieced together
3. When I "use" it, I have to speak softly and "not my usual self"
4. Not every girl will like to have it
5. It is not a Hello Kitty but It will bring me closer to Hello Kitty.

This is the best hint of all:

WHEN YOU "USE" IT, YOU WILL BE CITIZENS WITH HELLO KITTY!!!

If you can guess it right, kudos to you.

Do-nut you?

We spent a quiet Chinese New Year's eve afternoon at home baking and cleaning up the house. Decided to try my hand at baking again, and bought ingredients to bake doughnuts. They look quite okay I guess but I think it was way toooo sweet. I followed an American recipe. There are lots to improve on, I need to work on the presentation too. Tobey was so cute, he says, "I will be honest with you, the glaze don't look too good."

Thanks, Tobey for your honesty!

Connie Talbot - Over The Rainbow (BGT Final)

This is such an amazing voice. Such tremendous voice in a little body.God lives in this little girl...brings tears to my eyes too.

Por Kee for Anniversary Dinner

I took these pictures of our dinner at Por Kee to celebrate our wedding anniversary but forgotten all about it. I like the food at Por Kee, being traditional cantonese cuisine and at reasonable prices. I had wanted to book a nice place, like Grand Shanghai but in the end, we chose a no ambience place for economy and great taste.

As usual, our dishes are quite predictable. Cereal fried prawns, crabs, chicken wings. Guess the whole family including Tobey shares the same liking for food and seafood especially. Tobey just loves prawns and crabs so much that we have to stop him from eating too much of it. But I am glad he is not a fussy eater. He enjoys food of different cuisines just like us! I guess since he was young, he has been expose to all kinds of food and how he is expected to finish all his food to the last grain...even at times if his dinner lasts 1 hour, he was not allowed to leave his table untill he finished.

At Por Kee, we also tried their signature pork ribs. But we ordered the wrong kind. We had wanted the strip version which is much tastier. The crabs were quite a let down. We still prefer the ones at Ban Leong (Upper Thomson Road), which is another of our favourite eating place. But the prawns were shiok. On a side note, Por Kee being in Tiong Bahru, is a special place to me because I spent about 6 years growing up in this neighbourhood. Long before time, there were no such thing as neighbourhood shopping malls and we usually bought our clothes and necessities from the Tiong Bahru market. Reminds me of those childhood days...the whole neighbourhood still retains its nostalgic flavour.

When we are not who we are anymore

As some of my friends already know that I am getting my papers for Canadian PR. I have came this decision not because I want to leave here, but because there are priorities in life that I have to make. There are many things to consider especially leaving the land that you grew up in for a couple of years or perhaps more. It is not just a simple decision to make. There are considerations from the personal, child, education, spouse perspectives and the broader context of the extended family. I want to put in writing that I am not leaving Singapore because I have grown apart from it. I just needed a larger perspective and in terms of education, I just cannot foresee myself furthering my studies here anymore, and some other reasons. There are things in Singapore that one as a Singaporean will and cannot forget. I don't think I can call myself a Canadian and just wipe off my nationality as a Singaporean. So it really disturbs me when people imply to me that we cannot behave or think a certain way that is so "Singaporean" especially in front of other Singaporeans in a foreign land. I want to put on record that I am leaving Singapore,for Canada, sacrificing many positive things that I have grown so accustomed to, rather than the other way around. I am sure Canada is a beautiful place to live in and Singapore will always have a place in my heart. I feel that rather than conformity, we bring with us different perspectives, cultures and way of life that contributes to diversity in the place we live in. And I feel people will respect us for that and not how well we should assimilate into the new place to their habits and cultures. I hope this is something that I hope my child will never forget..his roots, culture, language and the whole meaning of embracing diversity.

I HEART YOU

This is one of those days that I count my blessings and thank GOD for the things that he has given me. You see, I was quite down-hearted that past week, thinking too much about life and life's purpose. Nothing could brighten me up, not TS's jokes, Tobey's kind words, not even 2 K-dramas.

But this day, I was sitting by the window, enjoying the morning's breeze when suddenly out of the blue came 4 fighter jets, I think it is Singapore's "Black Knights" flew into the skyline right in front of me. The amazing thing is, it was so quiet despite the speed they are travelling. They split into two groups, one going upwards on the right, and the other two, to the left. And they went out of sight into the horizon. I was shocked at what I saw.

Can you see it, can you see it? It is faint but it is there.

I almost teared! Okay, I am being childish, emo, crazy, mad. But I jumped up in excitement. I reached for the phone and called TS immediately,

ME: THEY DREW ME A HEART!
TS: What heart?
ME: THEY DREW ME A HEART! The fighters flew in and drew a heart in the sky, right before me! This makes my day!
TS: Aiya, told them 14th Feb, they come so early.
ME: Huh?
TS: A heart, right? ya, I booked them for 14th Feb, but they came today instead. I am going to call them up to ask for money back.
ME: Ya, sure, very funny.

Down Memory Lane

the clock tower, Ryan says the whole place looks very errie at night.

empty basketball court...in those days, it is packed with students playing basketball, catching zero point...

the eatery on the 4th floor of coronation plaza serves some good western food. A popular haunt of the schools nearby.

I took half a day to settle some urgent outstanding personal matters and thought i might as well go fetch Ryan from school. It is a trip down memory lane for me cos it is where I spent 6 years of my primary school life. I was quite an "active" and "talkative" student, simply cannot keep still. You would see me, in my prefect sash, doing the monkey bars, performing somersault stunts on the low bars, pitching against others much taller than me (I am very small you see) in 'zero point' and playing catching. Thinking back, I was really a hyper kid. And I don't know why the teachers made me a prefect. Maybe because they think I am loud enough to command people? Or that they want to give me more responsibility? But come to think of it, I did my duties well, but off duty, that's a different story. I remembered running down a slope every day after school to the bus instead of taking the steps. Once, I rolled down and scrapped my knee caps. I was definitely not your usual Singaporean "model" student. I was quite a daredevil, and played more than I studied.

But these days, things are quite different in NYPS. You don't see children running around, playing catching or a basketball game. They either go for their enrichment lessons straight after school or hop onto the buses home. Very civilised. The school still retains many of its traditions till this day. The uniforms, the leaders' sashes...Even the old school next to the new one is preserved (now the kindergarten). Only that now girls are allowed to have long hair. Those days, I remembered lining up to be spotted check. If we hair is longer than 2 fingers below our ear, we will be the punished.

Something that made my day

Tobey has melted my heart again. He drew this card and gave me yesterday (not his own initiative, but his teacher asked them all to draw). It is not mother's day or anything like that, so I thought, what is the occasion? He said, he doesn't know. Anyway, it was so touching to read those words, addressed to "my beloved mum". I find that very amusing, where did he learn to write such mushy stuff? And there is this "secret compartment" where a heart is hidden inside. At the back of the card, he drew a diamond. Good, he knows diamonds are women's best friend.

Mummy thank you for taking care of me and showing your love for me. But sometimes I just lose my temper so please forgive me

okay, what happen to all the punctuation????

Chasing grades, not dreams

It is a brand new year, am I ready for it? I am not too sure. I guess it is age and I have been thinking about many issues about life. Just two days ago, I was at the bookstore at Thomson Plaza and I saw this mother squatting on the floor, with 3 school-going children around her. What caught my eye was 2 baskets of assessment books. They were all sitting around to examine each of these assessment books. I was very perturbed by what I saw. One of the boys said, "I must have this assessment, it helped me got my A1 last year."

I don't want to turn out like that! Yes, I buy assessment books, because I feel have no choice. The system especially in a school like the one Tobey goes to, requires enrichment. If not, you get lost in the system and more importantly, I worry for Tobey's self-esteem if he doesn't get by well enough. Much as I want to say, this is not school life should be and character is more important than chasing grades, I find myself drawn into this system.

In another example, I was at a friend's party and sitting at the same table as this ivy league undergrad who came back for holidays. He was talking to a friend of mine. He was talking all about himself. It went like this,

"Oh, by the way, I am studying in ABC uni, back for the hols. I just had my 1st semester and I did well, oh IN FACT, I did VERY well! All As, and I beat all the ang mohs. Actually, not difficult to do well there lah because the ang mohs, they all go uni to play but I just study a bit harder."

Okay, don't need to exclaim your achievements, I thought. I feel sorry for that guy, probably a scholar of some Ministry in Singapore but I also pity the people he has to work with or his subordinates in future if he continues to behave like that. Is this the kind of attitude or behaviour that our schools are nurturing? Grades and achievements are important but let's not forget about basic human social and life skills like humility.

I told myself, Tobey may not be a A star student with A star grades but I glad for who Tobey is. He is a well behaved, considerate, caring and wonderful little boy. That's enough for me. Let's look at the strengths and the inner needs of every child.

Happy Happy 2008!

We ushered in the new year at home, partly because we know that all the ships in front of us will sound their horns and shoot their firecrackers. Moreover, we didn't want to be with the crowds in Marina Bay where the real fireworks are. 5 minutes before midnight, the ships and yachts blow their horns and it was really a different experience for us urban folks. Then the private yacht in front had a mini firework display that caught us by surprise.

To all my friends, and loved ones, here's toast to a brand new year! And the song that comes to my mind is my favourite singer, Barry Manilow's song..."If I Can Dream".

I hope everyone's dreams will come true in 2008!

There must be lights burning brighter, somewhere
Got to be birds, flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can’t my dream come true
Oh why

There will be peace, and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away
The doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope is shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can’t that sun appear

We’re caught in a cloud, with too much rain
We’re lost in a world, with too much pain
But as long as a man, has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly, and fly

Deep in my heart, there’s a trembling question
But I am sure that the answer’s gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there’s a burning candle
And if I can think, if I can talk
If I can stand, if I can walk, if I can dream
I’ll make my dream come true

Deep in my heart, there’s a trembling question
But I am sure that the answer’s gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there’s a burning candle
And if I can think, if I can talk
If I can stand, if I can walk, if I can dream
I’ll make my dream come true

Right, Right now… Right now
Please make my dream come true
Right now

Simon, the Chipmunk?

Before...
After...


This Christmas, Tobey looks really different. We brought him to an eye specialist to confirm that he is really short sighted and alas, he is. So we had to make him a pair of spectacles. We were not used to his new look. His first exclamation when he saw himself in the mirror with his spectacles...

"I am Simon, the Chipmunk!"

Cheers to 2007!

It has been an unusually challenging and exciting year. I left the Ministry after 6 years to take on another path, still in the education because I think it is something that is engraved in my heart already. I begin this unknown journey to be an academia. I say unknown because there is no guaranteed route to success. I took the plunge but I hope that my inner drive to do "something worthwhile" with my life will give me the strength to survive. You get "knocks" on your head and there are rejections. Yes, I have my fair share of rejections this year, so much that I felt I am really not cut out for this. I was walking like an aimless soul. TS said he feels like he is hugging a ticking time bomb. I have became a time bomb, a za-dan (Chinese for bomb). Very sad indeed. But because of my personality and the kind of upbringing I had, I will not rest until I reach my personal mountain.

Today, I received the best and most invaluable Christmas present of all. It is from a stranger, a well known academic in her field, who shared the same sentiments with me about the education system. I hope to be able to work with her and I am glad that she has agreed to. I have missed the deadline but I will use the time I have to read up as much as I can. It is a field that is very close to my heart, talent development. Those who are teachers would agree with me that in the student population, there exists a group who are diversely talented, some far more gifted in some ways than you can imagined. But they are lost in the system, forgotten and diminished in value. Imagine if teachers recognise them for who they are, and what they can do, they will succeed in life, and the society will be benefited.

I remembered not so long ago, in the early months of 07, my good pal, CY told me that my horoscope says it is going to be a transition year for me. How true it is! I hope that the flowers will bloom next year for me and everyone. Cheers to 2008!

Flight of the Mosquito

What a cool toy, thanks Travis! The "mosquito" heli is a Christmas gift from Travis and family to Ryan, but the older guy in the house is more interested to take possession of it. It was a toy he has been eyeing on. Remote control toys, who can get enough of them?

R & M First Recital

R & M prepared a piece and played together. It was great to see how far these two had progressed. For Ryan, it has been a long and enduring journey, for both the mother and son. I remembered the beginning months of learning, we drove each other crazy. And it really doesn't help when you know music and simply cannot tolerate the not-too-desirable pitching and phrasing. I remembered Ryan saying, "If I knew it was going to be so difficult to learn the violin, I should have said 'no' to you." And God knows how many times I had wanted to give up and say enough is enough. But now at least he can play decent enough to say to me, "Mommy, I am beginning to like to play the violin now."

But he still takes out his gameboy more than his violin to "practice"...okay, persevere!