Christmas Came Early

I had been an android phone user for many years and naturally the kids followed suit. My 1st smart phone was actually an iPhone. However, I got so fed up when I wasn't able to replace the dying battery (when it was still an android phone feature then) and couldn't download pictures to the computer. I switched to android, loving its removable storage card function and never look back. 

Back then, it is a no brainer  to use a Samsung phone if one is an android user. About 2.5years back, I switched to oppo bcos  the Samsung phones were so freaking expensive even with a contract renewal. 我买不下去 . The kids got their phones soon after I did and they were all on oppo. 

There is nothing wrong with oppo phones. They work fine and we got used to them. The only con is the lack of fanciful phone covers. It is almost impossible to find oppo phone covers at those ah beng phone shops. The ones that we ordered online ended up looking quite different from what they are supposed to look like. Hahaha. 

Daddy Lim switched to gomo when his contract ended with M1. He often raved about his 50 or 70gb monthly data, costing a fraction of what we pay M1. Zaky is also on gomo when we bought him a basic oppo phone. 

Lil Shauna and my contract with M1 ended a few months back. Our oppo phones are still  working fine but we were lured by the option to renew our contract and get new phones. Lil Shauna wanted an iPhone bcos "everybody" is using iPhone in school. After much research on whether we should renew our contract with M1 or switch to gomo, we reckoned that the cost is about the same over a 2 year period. The former allows a lower upfront payment (for the phone) but higher subscriptions (yet less data) over the 24 months period. 

We eventually decided to switch to gomo. For $18 per month, we will get 50gb. Hohoho. I had to deny Lil Shauna for her iPhone request bcos iPhone 13 is so freaking expensive! It is almost impossible to find the cheaper iPhone 11 selling in shops now. 

After some physical shopping, I convinced Lil Shauna to keep to android. Tadah!

Not the latest Galaxy S21, one generation back but not much worse and at a good price. Hoho. 

It takes a while to transfer the data from the old phone to the new phone and then to rearrange the transferred data, plus a few more days to get used to the new phone. After the easing in, I am totally loving my Samsung again. 

What happened to the old oppo phones? They are working perfectly fine and I am thinking of handing mine down to Zaky. His current screen is partially discolored at one  corner and my old phone is more powerful than his. Lil Shauna's oppo was passed down to Popo. Yay, you read me right. 

Many months back, when Daddy Lim moved to Google phone, I attempted unsuccessfully to switch her to Daddy Lim's old Huawei. She put up so much resistance that I had to switch her back. This time, she had asked to use Lil Shauna's old phone, realising how much easier it is to check vaccination status when she goes for her cruises. 

Lil Shauna's phone was reset and the basics were set up for Popo, changing the display language to Chinese and increasing the font size to the biggest possible. Then it was lesson 101 to teach her how to use a smart phone. It was difficult for her to understand how a touch screen works and she ended up activating OK Google instead of the home button. Zzzzz.

Lil Shauna attempted to turn off OK Google function and was telling the phone "OK Google". Popo overheard and exclaimed, "   

还要叫她 OK, *good girl* 啊? 我不会." Hohohohoho.. it was so hilarious. 

Popo eventually learnt the basics of the smart phone. I hope it makes her feel younger now and fortunately, there is no need to call the phone "good girl". Merry Christmas!

Mummy Lim

Covid-19 Part 5

Daddy Lim has exited his exile in victory yday. Hohoho. The new ruling basically says that when time's up, he is allowed out of his confinement, no testing needed, no questions asked. It is like the covid-19 viruses/ germs are supposed to disappeared when the clock struck 12. 

I don't know if that is the case but we took no chance and went on washing and cleaning.

It was disinfectant spray, antibacterial febreeze and Dettol everywhere. We used so much Dettol that the smell became overpowering and the moment I entered the room, I felt like I was teleported to a hospital. I had always thought that I like the Dettol smell. Now I know that overpowering Dettol is not exactly pleasing. 

Daddy Lim was pleased to be out of the house and happily offered to buy lunch. In the afternoon, he was sitting at his desk beside mine, watching his Netflix and chit chatting with me. It reminded me of those times that we both WFH. 

We opted for dinner outside bcos we just must. It was simple pratas but a pleasure to be dining outside. Dinner was completed with desserts that go to the heart and not the stomach (the kids' saying but I am sure they bluff me bcos I felt my shorts' waistband). 

Daddy Lim washed down the waffle with an espresso. It looks like some dessert right? Or like he was going to drink some sake.

The kids couldn't finish their waffle with double scoops ice cream and who got to benefit?

Despite it being only 10 days, I really missed having somebody to help with the leftover food. Hahaha. 

What I also am very absolutely glad, is to relinquish the driving responsibility. It was a joy to be able to sit in the passenger seat to check my phone, look outside the window, chit chat, anything but just not having to constantly concentrate on the road. Hoho. 

Daddy Lim is back at work this morning and it is back to his turn to drive Zaky to school. Yay! Lim Family 1, Covid 0. Fighting! 

Mummy Lim

Weekend w/o Daddy Lim

We survived the 7-day HRW period and managed to stay infection free. Hoho. I feel like I deserved a medal or something. 

On Saturday morning, I so wanted to cycle so much and jumped on the wagon when one of the usual kakis jio-ed. It didn't matter where we were riding to. The original idea was a chilled PNC ride for bfast. The chilled PCN part did take place after bfast but before that I didn't know how I found myself ending up at the fringe of ECP, clocking a total distant of 74km. Hohoho. I haven't rode this far for a long time and felt exhausted for the rest of the day. 

I wore my brand new pearl izumi cycling shorts and it is good leh but I paid a price for quality. I was dressed in singlet thinking that I would get some vitamin D under the shady trees but was burnt like hell. Hoho. This angle good, I look skinny. Haha. 

Bfast was at 2 men bagel. My 1st try and I like it. I like most things doughy. 

Jiak ah!

The bagels were huge and super tasty. 

We didn't do much in the afternoon except to get the kids into various classes and then I had to bug them to go home bcos I was so tired. 

We were contemplating another hike on Sunday morning but hiking didn't at all sound appealing in my exhausted physical state. Even though the Kallang Skatepark was closed for maintenance, we headed down for some round and round skating. 

It was a sunny morning, super bright and I thought it would be an ok drive having drove the kids to Kallang before. I was utterly wrong. I should have brought along sunglasses. The morning sun was so glaring. I wasnt used to the sun shade being pulled down and was contoured in a weird sitting position while driving. Then, at many points, the glare was so bad, reflecting off our badly scratched and dusted windscreen that I couldn't see even the markings on the road. I feared for our lives, particularly at the bends. I was so thankful to make it alive, safe and sound to Kallang. I was gripping the steering wheel so hard. 救命啊!

It was a hot morning and we had a good workout despite only skating around the tracks. We left at 10am and couldn't wait to get back into the car, into aircon. The drive back was a lot easier. Zaky was my co-pilot both ways and he is really good helping with reading out in advance of the Google map. 

Lil Shauna just relax happily in the back seat. 

We again made it home safe and sound, people and car alike. 

Lil Shauna still had the energy to go for her ice practice in the afternoon before we tabao dinner home and ended our weekend. All good as we looked forward to Daddy Lim's exit the next day. Hohoho. 

Mummy Lim

Covid-19 Part 4

Wednesday and Thursday ART were cleared without any hitches. Yay! Each morning, as I looked at the -ve results, I start counting our blessings. One more step nearer to the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow will be the end of our official HRW. Finger crossed. 

We are adapting and surviving well. Life continues almost as normal given that the kids and I do ART testing everyday. I am so thankful for the additional kits that the Govt has given us. Just the other day, we found a "goody bag" at our doorstep from the RC with mask, handwash and 2 more ART kits. 💗💗💗 (Bcos Lil Shauna says that I don't use emoji.)

As the exams are over for Lil Shauna, she has been ending school early for the past week and meeting Zaky for lunch before heading home. They are having good lunches. On Tuesday, it was MacD and it was Sushi Go on Wednesday, complete with a McFurry. They have better lunches than Daddy Lim. 

It isn't too bad for the man as well. He started doing some core exercises in his little confined space.

He sounded less nasal and slowly regaining his sense of smell (taste) must be the highlight of his life now. Meals are so much more delicious now and he is finishing his food so much faster than a few days back. Y'day, he asked for a coke and told me this was this view. 

I offered him chips and he took it so enthusiastically. An enthusiasm over food that I missed seeing. Lol. 

The cough is lingering and Uncle C says that that is usually the last symptom to go. Daddy Lim looks like on the right route to recovery! 

**************

Friday! Friday! Friday!

It is the last day of our HRW and the big fat -ve on the ARTs were very much welcome. 

The kids and I were so excited and would have celebrated with a meal at the restaurant if not for the 2-pax restriction. We ordered in BK and did our mini celebration at home instead. Popo also tested -ve and was glad to go to the market. 

Now that we are out of the woods, we are keeping our fingers crossed for Daddy Lim as well. Just a few more days. Yay!

Mummy Lim

Covid-19 Part 3

Zaky and I were testing ART at 6ish on Monday morning and we are both cleared! Yay! I drove him to school and am grateful that with the new legislation, we are allowed to proceed with normal activities so long as we are tested ART -ve and each test is valid for 24 hours. I have also arranged for him to skip Student Care for the week. I am not sure if that is intended to protect him from potential risk or vice versa. The boy is very glad regardless of who is more risky. LoL. 

I took advantage of the -ve result and did my HIIT outdoor after jumping around and disturbing my downstairs neighbor for the weekend. I think I can hit the gym or go for a run the next time with a -ve ART. Hehe. 

Lil Shauna enjoyed her morning chasing another x episodes of Supergirl and she has started to read Harry Potter too. The magic is contagious. 

Monday passed uneventfully. Daddy Lim said that he felt the same and the only same complaint was the loss of smell. Poor Daddy Lim.

This morning, Lil Shauna joined us for the ART testing. The -ve result on the kits are blessings and we are counting down to the last day of testing on Friday. Not that we are confined (no longer under the new rule) but the worry of infection is real and the 7th day mark is like an invisible victory milestone to indicate that we are out of the woods and have survived infection-free while living in the same household. 

I drove the kids again, dropping Lil Shauna at the station and Zaky to school. I was forced to drive when Daddy Lim was on bed rest in last March after his ops and got slightly better in driving but obviously still needed like so much more practice. I kissed the curb this morning and almost ran a red light. Everyday is like a new adventure when I drive. Hoho. 

Popo cleared her ART this morning too. She finally went for her booster jab after seeing how real the infection risk is. 

Daddy Lim again said that he feels the same. I thought he coughed lesser than yday but maybe it was just bcos I was too busy at work and didn't pay him too much attention. LoL. He did joyfully tell us that he thought he could pick up slight taste and faint smell since afternoon. I hope he is not imagining it bcos he had been trying to imagine what the different food taste like in attempts to make eating more enjoyable. 

Yay, counting down - 3 more days for us and 6 more for Daddy Lim. Fighting!

Mummy Lim

covid in our household ?!

 hii ! shauna here, this is gna b my first blog and its abt like uhm pappy getting covid and my thoughts about this... its abit weird cuz idk if im supposed to text like formal or informal but ig its informal :D 

ok so recently theres obviously been a spike in the covid 19 cases, and especially in my community, friends, family and school. honestly it sounds rly scary and worrying but weirdly i dont rly feel that way. strangely i feel rather calm about all this, maybe its cuz idc anym or maybe its cuz i have faith in god ¯\_(ツ)_/¯idk 

and as we all know, pappy(daddy lim) has gotten covid 19. so, this para is for u pappy: our whole family is scared for u and really hope that u will feel btr. i know that the road to recovery might be tough at times, and youll definitely feel discomfort and its irritating, but know that we are all here with you, fighting with you, quarantining with u ! we love you sooo much ! <3333 idk why mummy dont rly put emojis in here so like💗💗💗💗💗💗 (also her used emojis abit weird... but issok im totally not judging her hahahahaha ) we are awaiting the day that our highness pappy exits his tower, and we will all celebrate and rejoyce in his presence ok kidding 

sincerely, we love you and we hope u gws yeah ! god is with you and he will protect you, if u have anxieties, rmb 1 peter 5:7 cast all your anxieties on him for he cares for you. 

i wna put pictures of me enjoying my supergirl binge but idk how to so yeah ill end this here 

get well soon pappy <33

Covid-19 Part 2

Without the test results, we were not sure what was our status. Legally speaking, we are not deemed as close contact or on HSW until MOH confirms Daddy Lim's PCR result. Nevertheless, like good and responsible citizens, we stayed at home. The only restless person was Lil Shauna. I was busy working, Zaky was busy gaming, Daddy Lim was happily catching up on his Netflix, and Popo was busy calling duno who and who to update about Daddy Lim +ve ART result. Only Lil Shauna wanted to go to school to enjoy the after-exams catch-up but can't. 

Staying in over the weekend wasn't extremely bad again except for Lil Shauna. LoL. Daddy Lim appeared to be very pleased too. He has the whole room to himself and nobody disturbs him from his gaming and Netflix marathon. He gets room service on top of that. Not bad. 

Bcos Lil Shauna was so bored, I suggested that we re-arranged the furniture of her room; I used to do that when I was a kid, where most of the furniture were movable and I get a brand new look of the living room every now and then. It was a great opportunity to clean up her room and packed the old worksheets for recycling too. 

Thus, we started and were at it for over 3 hours. 

We moved her study table, her shelf and the full-length mirror around the room.

From this:

To this:

I thought the new configuration looks tidier and also gives her more light. She is pleased. I had fun too. Hoho.

The rest of Saturday was spent lazing around the house until Daddy Lim finally got the notification that he is tested Covid +ve and submitted our details as close contact to MOH. We finally received the HSW sms from MOH in the late evening, which led to our very 1st massive family ART testing. Fortunately, we are all tested -ve.

Truth be told, ever since Daddy Lim said that he is ART +ve, I have been paranoid and kept thinking that my throat feels funny. The -ve result was very comforting. 

With the test just done, Lil Shauna and I went to grab some more groceries and bfast for the next day. At the same time, we collected the additional ART kits from the vending machines and also MacD supper. Hoho. Daddy Lim got to enjoy the supper too. 

Lil Shauna also took the opportunity to throw all her notes/ workbook into the recycling bin. 

We do that every year end, after the exams are over and I always feel very therapeutic about it. Hoho. 

We were largely at home on Sunday. Lil Shauna has resigned to fate of her confinement and was binge watching Supergirl on Netflix for the nth time. Like I was telling her, there is a difference between willingly staying at home vs confined and thus her frustration. But she is taking it well and very much looking forward to going to school on Tuesday. Monday is another stay home day for her as there it is some promotion day. Promote who?

We FaceTime Daddy Lim over dinner and a couple more times and he looked to be well, still with mild symptoms. His only complaint that is becoming more frequent is the loss of smell. As a result, eating (including snacking) has no more joy. While we joke that it would be a good time for him to lose weight, he is seriously worried about not getting his sense of smell back. Imagine losing the joy of eating forever! He is taking it seriously and even read up on how to train to get the sense of smell back, like using coffee, hand soup, fruits and garlic. We have no garlic and I suggested the kids' stinky socks. That one power. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

Covid-19 Part 1

The regulations had been changing so frequently that I gave up trying to follow it. I presumed I will read up when I needed to. 

There are like 3000+ cases every day and the cases are hitting so much closer to home. 1st, my MIL was tested +ve. We have no idea how she got it given that she rarely leaves the house, usually only to go tabao. Fortunately, her symptoms are mild, she is vaccinated and had made a full recovery.

Then, Zaky's Chinese tutor's entire family was down. Fortunately, it was another case where the symptoms are mild and they made a full recovery. 

Bcos Daddy Lim is in the Shipyard industry, which is considered as high risk, he has swab every Sunday plus ART as supplement. Last Thursday, he told me that he feels funny, like a flu coming. He self tested ART on Thursday evening and it was a -ve. We didn't think too much and even shared dinner and also desserts happily. 

On Friday morning, he did another ART and this time, he got a +ve. With that, protocol 101 kicks in, which I actually duno what that is except that he should self-isolate and got to use the master bedroom as it comes with an attached bathroom. 

Truth be told, we were pretty lost and started reading up and asking others what are the rules now. Daddy Lim kept thinking that he only needs to self-isolate for 72 hours and test again after that, only to be reminded that this protocol is for those without symptoms. We realized that our friends are a lot more educated than we are. Haha. 

He said that he feels "well". Zzzzz. Coughing and runny nose = symptoms lor and I had to keep nagging him to go see a doctor as per the protocol, so did many of our friends. 

He finally did and received the news that he is tested Covid +ve. I had originally thought that we all needed to be quarantined with him for 14 days only to be educated that Daddy Lim only needs to be on QO for 10 days now, plus, we are allowed to go out of the house for essential needs if we tested ART -ve for the day.

On Friday early morning when Daddy Lim was tested ART +ve, Lil Shauna skipped school having not knowing of the protocol. I was running around getting my frequently used stuff out of the mbr. Fortunately I am WFH now and didn't need working clothes. Daddy Lim happened to be sleeping in Zaky's room the night before and I was washing bedsheets and mopping floor at 6.30am. Zzzzzz.

Then, Lil Shauna and I tested ourselves on the ART and with a -ve result, rushed to NTUC at JP to buy groceries (in case more adults are tested +ve subsequently) and more ART kits. I was shocked to realise that each kit cost $9! Just a while ago, I still 嫌弃 the multiple ART kits gifted by the school and Govt, thinking that they merely take up space and we have no use for them. Now, I am wondering how much $$ we are going to spend on the kits. 

We bought 6 kits and a trolley of grocery. The next steps were to figure out if the kids can return to school on Monday. My initial thought was "no" and that Zaky would miss his SA2 this coming week. I even started to relax on the revision. Unfortunately for him, the kids can actually go back to school (and SA2, hahahaha) so long as they tested -ve on the ART on the same day. Lil Shauna was thrilled bcos confining at home is so boring.

Popo was supposed to go on her cruise on Friday. I think she was hesitant before that bcos of the high number of cases. Daddy Lim testing +ve helped her made the decision to miss it this time. She has also been procrastinating her booster jab but now that she saw the the risk is so real, she 乖乖 ask to do it next week. Haha.  

Daddy Lim is holding up very well. The last I checked, the symptoms are still mild and he seems to be having a good time playing games, watching Netflix and we just subscripted to Disney Plus thinking that the kids would also be confined next week. It seems like Daddy Lim would benefit most from it. Haha. 

Mummy Lim

To the Beach!

Lil Shauna was off school on Monday and Tuesday as it was EOY exams marking days. Zaky had the whole week off for PSLE marking. If it had been 2 years back, we would probably be in Malaysia. Haiz. 

Fortunately my Monday afternoon calendar was free and I managed to block myself off before the week got busy, intending to bring the kids out. I had wanted to bring them to the beach, but weather forecast said that there would be thunderstorms in the afternoon. Zzzzzzz. The alternatively was a movie and I was glad that Venom is screening. 

By noon, the sky was clear though the rain forecast remained on the NEA website. We took the risk and grabbed to Vivocity for lunch before the train to Sentosa. It was free entry!

We have beach-y kids and they never fail to self entertain at any beach. 

The weather was cloudy and shady despite being mid-day. I did change into my swimming costume, just that lazing around on the mat was more appealing. Hoho. 

The kids moved from the water to some hole digging on the sand; a hole big enough to fit themselves in. 

I did go into the water... Ok, at least my feet did. Hoho. 

It started drizzling at 4pm. We got to spent a good 1.5 hour at the beach before making our way back to JP for dinner. We were caught in the rain but it wasn't a heavy downpour as I had expected it to be. Heng ah.

My tween and teenager.

So grown up already. One thing that remained the same is their habit to pick and collect stones and shells at the beach. How come got avocado? Hmmmm...

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 252: Getting Back after Exams

Lil Shauna took a break to prep for her EOY exams. Just a year back, I was working hard with her and helping her to prep for PSLE. One year later, I didn't at all have to "help" her in her studies. I am super amazed at how she suddenly learnt how to study for exams.

Her papers ended last Thursday and I booked her a class on Sunday afternoon. She now appreciates Sunday lesson so much more bcos it is only 30 mins, she has R for companion and it is on 1/3 ice, which means lesser to skate and thus less tiring. 

Bcos of the time and space restrictions, Coach didn't go through the whole program with her but they practiced the ending pose of her program.

Just a while ago, Lil Shauna and I were looking at one of her old program videos and having a good laugh. All these years, she had problem standing firm at the end of the program. Even on Sunday, she was wobbly and struggling with her ending pose. Haha. 

Her spins were nice on Sunday, catching her foot a couple of times after transiting from her camel spin. 

Not bad lah, a good warmup for SISA ice that resumes next week. 

After ice, Lil Shauna asked me to bring her to the new desert place beside the rink. She said that she had been eyeing this place for a while but too expensive to come on her own. 

The toast and ice cream is really good!

Next time bring Daddy Lim and Zaky. 

Mummy Lim