This Time to Mumbai

After Jakarta, it is Mumbai and the cycle repeats. 

Mumbai is painful. The flight was at 7.30am and I was up at 4ish. Poor Nana asked for her hair to be braided at 5am, so that she has decent braided hair for the school's racial harmony day. 

She went back to bed for an additional precious 45 mins after that and had so much fun in school. 

I think I have flew too much. This is my 5th business trip of the year, in addition to a couple of personal trips. I actually ran out of cosmetics and skincare products to buy at DFS. Lol. I ended up strolling in the airport and saw the Butterfly Garden. 

Of course I didn't go in. Siao ah? Butterflies are EVIL. I did try to peek from the glass panel; I think they were all sleeping. 

I saw a mini playground too. I got reminded of how Zaky would always ask about the playground whenever we are at the airport, regardless of whether he can now physically fit into them. 

I like SQ. I had the aisle seat and the middle seat was empty. Hohoho. All ready with my barangs for the next 5 hours. 

The flight was alright. I caught a movie, took a nap, had bfast. Oooo.. my favourite yogurt. 

There was quite some turbulences but my nap was barely affected. It is the moonsoon season in Mumbai now. I exited the plane to rain and there was so much rain throughout. Whenever I stepped out of the hotel or office, it was rainy. I didn't even see a minute of dryness. The Mumbaians didn't mind the rain apparently, which is a welcome relief from the earlier heat wave. 

Immigration was alright. So was finding the prebooked car to the office. The traffic around the airport vincity was slightly heavier than what I remembered, probably bcos of the rain. That started my work trip to Mumbai and the 1st day is usually the most tiring with the extra early morning and longer day due to the time difference. I survived. 

Back to my usual Vivanta in Navi Mumbai. 

The room was alright and generally comfortable. The only thing that irked me is this irregular "tiaking" sound that becomes very obvious when I was trying to sleep. Even with the TV on, I could hear it and it drove my imagination crazy. I attempted to locate it a couple of times but gave up. I survived again. 

This time, I booked myself a room with bfast and woke up to delicious food every morning. 

My Mumbai business trip routine is very fixed and I drew comfort from the familiarity - gym, bfast, work, optional in room dinner, sleep and repeat. Each morning, I woke up a rainy scene outside the gym. 

My comfort food dinner for one of the nights. 

One must do all means to make oneself happy during business trips, even if it meant unhealthy food. Hoho. 

On the last day, I opted to work at the office in the Mumbai City, so that I would be nearer to the airport and not worry (too much) about missing my flight home. The traffic was made worse again by the rain and I had to wait a long time for an uber to wait to pick me. I saw my uber driver got upset several times and he was very vocal about swearing accompanied with hand action at the drivers whom he was upset with. Lol. 

Oh, this Mumbai trip, I had "pampered" myself and booked Uber Premium instead. I was expecting a nice car the very 1st time I booked, only to realise that it was just a slightly bigger car than a normal uber. Yes, I was disappointed but still better than the usual uber old and mini car. At least it is now still old but slightly bigger. Hoho. 

As usual, I counted down to homecoming. Days past quickly bcos I was busy with work. At the city office, many colleagues had encouraged that I leave early for the airport to avoid getting stuck in traffic bcos of the rain. I left for the airport at 5.30pm, 6 hours before my flight. It was still raining. 

Pools of water were forming at the side of the roads and the porthole were everywhere. 

When I arrived at the airport, the checkin counter wasn't even opened. I worked and was surprisingly quite efficient. Lol. I was in the Q when the counter opened at 7ish bcos I wanted to clear immigration and find dinner. There was barely any food options in the airport outside of the immigration. Unlike Singapore, only travellers are allowed into the airport, so there aren't fancy restaurants setup for airport visitors. 

My dinner. 

I had wanted a hot chocolate and a hot sandwich, but all non-veg sandwiches were spicy. Welcome to Mumbai. Zzzzzz. 

The remaining hours were spent working and reading and the flight was on time. Hooray! 

The flight wasn't great. The turbulences were bad. In my little waking hours, I didn't at all see the seatbelt sign turned off. Thankfully, I was too tired to mind the shaking. I had the flight supper and the desserts were Indian desserts and no, I don't fancy them at all. The passenger in the middle seat infringed into my space many times. It was irritating. Zzzzz.The worse of all was the passenger behind me. He had his knee onto the back of my seat and I could not recline the seat at all!!! I eventually asked the steward to ask the man to remove his bloody knee. In normal flights, even red-eye, I practice flight etiquette and do not recline my seat fully. I bloody heck care this time. Pui. 

I touched down safely nevertheless and am so glad to be home. If there is one other thing that I buy too much other than the cosmestic and the skincare, it must be the duty free alcohol. 

Daddy Lim asked for white wine this time and he said any one. I can do that. Hoho. I am happy to be home. 

Mummy Lim

The Cat who Pui the Pill

6 months ago, we brought Mochi to the vet, who told us that he needs to take the de-worm medicine every 3 months. He was fed a tablet at the clinic and it looked easy enough. We were given 2 more pills, which will last us until his annual checkup in October. 

3 months ago, we gave him a tablet and we got it at the 1st try. Easy peasy. Well, that is what we thought bcos come another 3 months later, it was totally different. 

I think it is bcos he is now older and no longer gong gong. Daddy Lim held him while he struggled, and I tried forcing his mouth opened and popped the pill in. Within the next second, he pui it out. Zzzzz.. we attempted a few more times, switched roles, coated the pill with creamy treats, and none work. 

We gave up and had to bring him to the vet a week later, both to get a new pill and assistance to feed the pill. Mochi has grown much bigger and his carrier 本来刚刚好... we had to carefully squeeze him in and not zip on his tail. 

In the end, we had to pay $15, with more money going into the feeding service than the pill. Mochi was very 乖 at the clinic. He didn't even attempt to struggle. The pill feeding was so easy. They wrapped him with a big towel, opened his mouth, popped the pill in, held his mouth closed, stroked his throat a little and tadah! All done! He seriously didn't even moved a toe. 

Mochi was traumatised. He wouldn't even eat his treat in the car and didn't want to come out from his carrier. I had to drag him out.

See lah, it would have saved us all the trama if you had just taken the pill. #mummyknowsbest hoho. By the way, he is not 4.7kg. Fat siol. 

Mummy Lim

Babysitting Athena

Ah yee had asked for help to babysit Athena for a few hours last Friday. Ah yee had already left the house when I came home at about 6ish. Daddy Lim, Zaky and Athena were waiting for me before we drove to pick Nana from Maths tuition. 

I was worried that Athena would be anxious without her mummy but she was instead very excited to join us for the evening. 

She did complain that the journey to Nana's "school" was a tad too long. Daddy Lim was driving slower than usual, in case Athena got car sick. Zaky was more engrossed in his phone than to entertain her. Daddy Lim and I tried chatting with Athena but spent a lot of time trying to understand her instead. Lol. 

Our savior came in the form of Nana, who then interpreted what Athena was saying. Lol. Don't ask me how she could do that. We had dinner at Toby's, one of the reasonably priced restaurants that we frequent and everybody found something that they wanted to eat. Athena shared her favourite fries and fried chicken, as well as some of Zaky's cream pasta. She eats like a mouse and I was glad to be able to feed her properly and fulfilled my babysitter's responsibilities. 

Nana had to enter one of her council meetings during dinner. Nana's friends were equally entertained by Athena as she was with them. She was happily waving to the people on the video call throughout dinner. 

We could have headed home after dinner but had earlier promised to bring her to arcade. Zaky was too tired from school and his NSG games and he insisted to sleep in the car. 

Athna loves to sit with Nana in the wheelchair. No chance le. Hoho. 

We didn't stay too long. We went back to the car, to the sleeping Zaky, who was drooling and perspiring. Lol. 

Mission accomplished! Thank you Athna for trusting us so much. Taking care of little kids is pure hard work. Lol. 

Mummy Lim

Paika No More!

Nana broke her ankle in mid April 23. She was in a hard cast for a month and during her last appointment in mid May 23, the doctor ordered another 2 months in an aircast. Weaircasted and wheelchaired to BKK and back. Survived!

Nana had her appointment this morning. We suspected that she is very much alright bcos she had been happily walking around at home without the aircast. There was no complaint of pain too. 

It was the usual drill. I have done this like 4 times, split over the 2 kids with broken bone. Nana had to do most of the registration and moving around independently as I went into a call. We managed well. 

The sports center and the X-ray centre were both very empty and we didnt have to wait long. Even the wait for the doctor consultation was very fast. 

The conclusion? The doctor has given the all clear! There was still a faint line on the Xray, which I couldn't really see. The doctor said that it is normal and it would heal with time. Since there is no pain, she gave the go ahead to start walking without cast but to be further excused for exercise for another 3 months. I had asked if physiotherapy is needed and no, bcos she was already in cast for 3 months. Ok, I am just happy that we don't have to come back again. 

Bcos everything was done so much faster (than the last visit), we had time for lunch before Nana took her last "mummy sponsored and without the need to ask" Tada home. She will so miss the many taxi rides. Hoho.

We have to make arrangements to return the crutches and the wheelchair. She can actually return to her room (and bed) and I can have my bed back. Hohoho. We were also eyeing a Bali holiday in September  pending the status of her ankle, and can now buy air tickets. Hohoho. So happy!

Mummy Lim

Centris No More

Daddy Lim said that we bought Centris back in 2015. I don't really remember. Of which, we had 3 memoriable years living in the unit. 

With the rising interest rates and good private property price, we had decided that it was time to let it go. We had to negotiate out of the existing lease and it wasn't pleasant nor cheap. 

Last Saturday, we took the unit back from the tenants. 

I was reminded of how much I like Centris' color, white and blueis-tinted windows. So sophisticated. I was also reminded of how convenient it is, right next to the MRT station and on top of a shopping mall. 

The condo renovated the gym. 

The gym is a nice boxy shape and the management did a good job squeezing in many equipment. 

One last look at the unit. 

Do I 不舍得? Not exactly. Centris is a 14 YO establishment. I read in the condo platform that many facilities are failing, and of damnaged windows and heaters and fixtures. We didn't do major renovation when we took over the unit. While staying in, we did it plenty of harm and the last 2 over years of leasing didn't improve things. Overall, it just looked like an old, sad unit. When we moved out, we sort of know that we wouldn't move back.

The unit was supposed to be handed over to the buyer on Wednesday. During the takeover, we realised that we had to get rid of the fridge and washing machines. 

We tried Olio but the requestor were mostly unable to arrange for transport at such short notice. One of the requesters referred us to the Raining Raincoats, a charity organisation for foreigners. After some coordination with the not so whatsapp-friendly admin, we gave away both items by Monday. Just in time. 

Bye Centris, you have provided us a good home and good memories. 

Mummy Lim

Gatherings, Gatherings

Ah Yee and Athena are back! This calls for family gatherings. They arrived on Thursday evening and I was still in JKT. By the time I was home on Friday, they were already asleep. They were still sleeping when I went out for my Saturday ride. 

The usual cycling gang was in Desaru for a cycling event. Why didn't I go? Bcos the sun is very hot. It had been weeks since I last cycled. I missed bcos we were in BKK and then it started raining every Saturday morning. Yday was a cosy group and they were kind to accommodate my speed, bcos I wanted a chill ride. 

It was a short ride to Labrador Park to catch the sunrise. Was that the sunrise? 

I was told that the sun had gone to Desaru. No wonder we barely got any. Hoho. 

I barely met and spoke with ah yee and had to rush off to run an errand. I didn't even see Athena. The SHSS ladies were meeting at Ms Teo's place to celebrate her bday. The plan was for me to take the car but Daddy Lim and Zaky didn't come back from ECP in time. I ended up taking the train all the way to Tampine. Far, far away... The entire journey took me almost 2 hours. 

We had great chats and catch-ups over plenty of good food. Ms Teo always host with pretty plates and cups. 

Happy bday Ms Teo! If it isn't for her, I may not have known Christ or this wonderful group of ladies who have walked me through 3/4 of my life. 

Oh yes, we decided that we need peace and quietness and the kids were not invited. Hoho. 

While I was busy catching up, Zaky did his big cousin duties and brought Athena for a swim. 

Athena said that she likes Nana the most, after Nana went JP with her. She was just beginning to like Zaky after the swim but decided otherwise bcos Zaky didn't say "You are welcome" after she thank him for the swim. Lol. 

My brother's family came over for dinner. 

Auntie H sent me to Bukit Timah, and my long journey home was thankfully halved. I came home to more food!

There was so much noise. People were chatting, kids playing, dog barking. At some point, Athena was over-stimulated and hid in the room. Mochi also. Lol. He was happily in the room, away from the din and Aiko. In the picture, he was absolutely reluctant and dying to run back into the room. 

Mummy Lim