My Babies are Back!

The church that the kids attend seems to do this annual overseas church camp after Covid restrictions eased. Their church is very small and one of those where everybody knows everybody and attended by the entire family for many, many years. Last year, they asked to go to the camp but I didn’t allow. The thought of the kids going overseas with people whom I barely know is difficult to tolerate. They were disappointed to miss out on all the fun and fellowship and kept asking to join this year’s. 

I did get the chance to know some of the youths better over the year. After much deliberations, we finally allowed the kids to join this year’s church camp, which took place last weekend. There was quite some logistics and 2 families stepped in to help take care of the kids. We had originally thought that Daddy Lim and I would travel with the kids to KL and do a little holiday while the kids attend the camp but annual leave is such a limited resource that I simple couldn’t afford. 

The families booked private cars for the long KL trip. Nana went with family A and Zaky with family B bcos there wasn’t enough space in the same car. The camp started on Friday but they made arrangements to drive in on Thursday pre dawn, thus the kids went for a sleepover on Wednesday night. 

Did the kids have fun? Obviously! At least they kept their promise to WhatsApp us and kept in contact over the last 5 days. Throughout the 5 days, the kids sent various video note but just that few pictures. Zzzzz.

Finally, they made their long journey back from KL yday afternoon. For sure, it was a long drive. They had originally estimated that they would be home at 9ish. But by 9ish, they were still crawling towards the immigration. 

Why is the custom so jam on both links and both ways on a late Monday night? 

By the time they were finally home, it was already 10pm. Then, I made them unpacked to do the 1st laundry load. Hoho. The kids missed me as much as I missed them. It is not the same traveling overseas with your friends vs with your friends but they also had their parents to take care of them. Zaky said that he took care of jiejie a lot and when their friends had their parents to look after them, they missed me 5x more. Lol. 

They had a lot to tell me about the church camp and despite how tired we all were, we chatted until 11ish. They definitely had fun and a lot of good food too, and even then, still whack supper every night. Lol. 

It did feel so weird over the last 5 days when it was just Daddy Lim and I. I kept thinking that this is what life would be if we have no kids or in a few more years’ time when the kids leave the nest. The house was not messy, there was little laundry and dishes to do and we did our meals separately. I am so glad that we have 2 kids. Hoho. Otherwise, we probably need to have more pets! 

Mummy Lim

Bukit Timah Reserve Hike

Auntie SL, P, H, YF and I had planned to hike Mt Ophir in August/ September this year. We are very inspired by Auntie H who summit Mount Fuji last year! We chose Mt Ophir bcos it is near to Singapore (somewhere near Malacca). Most of us are new to hiking too and also had limited in resources - $$ and/ or leave, including “mummy leave” for some.

The plan is to do a 1 night stay in Malacca before the hike, then return home after the hike. We saw some setting off from Singapore in the night, arrived the next morning, hike and then come home. If that is doable, the hike wouldn’t be that difficult, right? Hoho.

Auntie P was the last to agree to the hike. We persuaded her very hard and she is worried that she didn’t have the physique to complete the hike. Her concerns must are very real - we had earlier planned to meet on Monday, to fully utilise our PH in lieu and when I subsequently suggested to do a hike on Monday, she promptly agreed. Even the wet weather forecast didn’t deter her. 

We did a rain check at 7am, the time that she was supposed to set off. It was still bright and dry in Bukit Panjang. Daddy Lim said that the rain had stopped in Tuas, Auntie SL said that it was raining heavily in the North. There was forecast of thundery showers everywhere and we could see the rain clouds coming to Singapore. Auntie P said “meet 1st, then decide”. 

We did and when we did, we found that the worse seemed to be over at Bukit Timah. It was still drizzling, which called for us to look for bfast. Very important. 

There is an overhead bridge that brings us from Beauty World Shopping Center to the direction of the Reserve. 

Then, it was about a 7-min walk. I didn’t know that we live so closely to Bukit Timah Reserve. We should hike a few times more before we shift to Rio. Hahahahah. 

All hikes in the Reserve start with this super steep climb. It is like a “are you sure you really want to hike the Reserve?” check. We cleared the “check” panting and huffing and finally started our hike. 

While there are many maps and signboards in the Reserve, we had to ask for directions a few time. We must be so tired that we were blind. I am amazed to find so many pro uncle/ auntie hikers, who not only tell us the way, but even preempt us on the route to come. 

We did make it to the “summit”. It was so mild that I didn’t even know that I was at the “summit”, except the big signboard telling me so.

We then go down, down, down, down, so that we can climb back up, up, up, up. Hoho. 

We completed a loop. Then, finally back to the starting point via the same steep slope. Super steep siah, I am so amazed that I climbed up the slope in the morning. 

In total, it was about 5ish km and took us about 1.5 hours. 

I definitely tolerated the hike better than Auntie P. I secretly thanked the thousands and hundreds of squats and lunges that I had done in the gym. 

With the hike conquered, we went to town to meet Auntie SL for lunch. 

Fortunately, nobody complained about the 2 sweaty and smelly aunties in the MRT.

Auntie P was worried that her knees will abandon her the next day. She was very much alright except for some sore calves. See, we are all good for Mt Ophir! 

Mummy Lim

Project Rio Chapter 3 - Group Buy

There are some changes to the renovation schedule but I love how our IDs kept us updated. The partition works and touching up of holes on 4 Jun, and rubbish cleared by the 6th. The vinyl was measured on 7th and we also met the ID to confirm the carpentry work (measurements and design). We also paid the biggest chunk of the renovation fee. Ouch!

Painting would be taking place today and the vinyl installation on the 11th. The glass measurements would be done on the 12th. Then, there would be a slow down of work while waiting for the carpentry fabrication. Once carpentry is installed, majority of the project would be deemed to be completed. Yay! After meeting the ID on Saturday, we popped down to the unit and the floor protection and rubbish were removed, as per the schedule. Otherwise, it didn’t look like much other work had been done since our last visit. 

On Sunday, we signed up for Gain City Group Buy, which is their event for new home buyers, guaranteeing at least a 10% discount. We needed to buy a washer, dryer and fridge. All done and climate vouchers all fully used. We were poorer by $3.6k. 

We spent 2 over hours at Gain City and shopped until we were hungry. This tasted like home cooked food. 

I think the only heavy weight item left is the sofa. That is the task for another day bcos furniture shopping is so tiring. 

We have asked to terminate the current leave by end of August 25. The LL said that we can only do so if she manages to get a new tenant. Her agent has already started to market the unit and let’s keep our fingers crossed. 

Mummy Lim

Crochet!

This year, one of my new year resolutions is to learn a new skill/ sports; basically to learn something. After procrastinating for half a year, I thought maybe I should go find somebody to teach me how to crochet. Auntie S was keen to join me. 

I found G on Carousel, who is ok to teach us at a cafe in town. We needed to meet somewhere in town given that Auntie S and I live in 2 different ends of Sgp. G charges us $25/pax/hr for the 1st pax and subsequent paxs at $20/pax/hr. We also had to pay $5 each for material. G said that the class needs to be at least 2 hours for us to learn how to crochet. 

The offer was also thrown to the other aunties. Guin was keen to join us. She told us that she has this classmate who crochet expertly and is able to turn up an octopus in mins. Wah….

We met at 7pm last Friday at Suntec and found empty seats in BK and reckoned that we can easily park ourselves in BK for 2 hours. G came and asked if we wanted to learn to crochet a scrunchie or a keychain. Guin opted for the scrunchie and so we all learn to make scrunchies. Our aim is to do one of those plushies one day. G said that the strokes are the same, just what we were doing goes in a line, left to right, while those plushies strokes go in circles. Huh? Lol.

The starting was really confusing. Sometimes the crochet needle goes above the yarn, sometimes below. Then poke here, poke there, then drag the yarn over. We all had to retry many times before finally getting the hang. Despite do, we still made mistakes and had to redo a few times. 

After a good hour, we finally completed the 1st layer, and the 2nd layer is slightly different from the 1st. The redoing starts again. Haha. At some point, I had to remove my contact lenses and change to my classes. 

Though we complain loads, we had a lot of laughters too, mainly at each other. Haha. 

The 2 hours passed so quickly. We didn’t complete the scrunchie. G taught us how to use some of the tools that come with the material and also how to end the scrunchie when we are finally done (and if we get there). Otherwise, there is always the YouTube. 

I continued with my scrunchie on Saturday afternoon after my ride. Finally! 

Yes, I learnt how to end via YouTube. Hoho. So proud of myself. 

What’s better? I wanted to make sure that I remembered how to start the crocheting and so started a new scrunchie! I do remember how to start! Hohoho. This time, I am also much faster. Tadah! 

The 2nd one comes with 3 layers. The 1st and 3rd layer has the same stroke. 

Auntie S also finished her scrunchie. Her 2nd and 3rd layer has the same stroke, thus much “taller” than mine. 

I peeked at the YouTube video just now, the octopus is the easiest plushy to crochet and the strokes look the same. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

Toothless

I had a cracked molar back in February 2021. Cracked tooth hurts in a crazy way. No impact is needed and it will suddenly just hurt like hell. The dentist couldn’t tell how bad the crack was even if with an xray and said that I needed to visit a specialist before deciding if I should do a crown, which still may have only 50% success rate. 

As a temporary measure, I had a metal band placed around the tooth to hold it together. Wonderfully, the pain subsided and I took my chance to leave it as it is. By right, the band should effectively work for about 12 months and mine lasted 4 years. During the regular dental visits, the dentist also agreed to the wait and see approach, until drastic action has to be taken. 

In recent weeks, the gum around the cracked tooth started hurting and was swollen. A chunk of the cracked tooth further chipped away. My bite on my right side was affected but I expertly still chew on my left. Haha. The pain got quite bad at times and I somehow predicted that the time has come. 

Dental visits are traumatising for me and required a lot of courage. Pain is obviously a good motivator. I went for my appointment this afternoon. I was right. The cracked tooth is the culprit and the surrounding gum is pretty swollen. I was sent for an xray and the verdict is that the crack was quite bad. Bye bye tooth. 

I was initially given 2 jabs to numb the area. The dentist warned that the 2nd jab will hurt more and it really hurt damned bad. Then it was poking here and there to see if the jabs have taken effect. There was still a little pain and I seriously wouldn’t want to take chance and experience any kind of pain during extraction. Bcos the there was an infection, the dentist suggested a 3rd jab. Thankfully, with the anaesthetic taking effect, I didn’t at all feel the 3rd jab. 

After a little more poking and confirming that I feel no pain, the extraction began. I was told that while there is no pain, I will feel the tugging. It is so traumatising. The dentist took her pliers and was pulling and shaking the tooth loose. Her assistant had to held my head. After the pliers, it felt like she was using some tool to dig out the tooth. Sob. 

Finally! The tooth came out! The dentist said that the crack was very bad, all the ways to the root. Sorry for the pictures. Hoho.

The tooth has worked so hard, staying in its slot for the last 4 years. Good job! 

The dentist suggested implant for the empty hole left behind or a bridge. Otherwise, the other teeth, particularly the last molar, will get lonely and start moving around. Both options are painful. The implant requires certain bone mass, otherwise procedures to grow the required mass, then drilling a socket into the bone. I feel faint. Bridging requires grinding down on the tooth left and right to place a cap. I also faint. To explore the implant, I have to go back in 2 to 3 months time, after healing had taken place, to explore. 

Meanwhile, I am back at home and in front of my laptop. I was given pain medication and still biting on the gauze that can be removed soon. I don’t know if I am imagining things but I thought I can start feeling a full ache and the lower teeth are painful too? Luckily I have no other meetings for the rest of the day that required me to speak. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

To JB and Back!

Zaky had wanted to perm his hair and I was to arrange for an overnight JB trip during the June holidays. Daddy Lim said that he couldn’t take leave in June bcos of work rostering. I couldn’t find a weekend that we were all free for an overnight stay. We decided that we would do another day trip. Nana wasnt keen bcos she doesnt have specific agenda for the trip.

The reason why we didnt enter JB on Saturday was bcos Daddy Lim had his poly mates’ gathering. It had been a long time since I joined them bcos they had planned most gatherings as makan and drinking session without family. This time, it was a BBQ at one of the mates' place and family was invited. The kids cant be bothered to meet a group of old uncles and aunties whom they barely recognised.

I joined and ended up as the designated driver so that Daddy Lim can drink. The amount of alcohol that they consumed was scary. I think they had forgotten that they are in their late 40s. Coincidentally, 2 other couples had also made plans to head to JB the next morning.

We left at about 10pm and Daddy Lim was fairly drunk. We were all hoping that he wouldn’t wake up with a hangover. Of course he did. lol.

We woke up at 5ish and left the house slightly before 6am. The immigration traffic was actually quite decent. 

By 6.45am, we had entered JB land, earlier than our last day trip. Bcos we were so early, we went in search of bfast and found this huge Thai kopitiam. The patrons were mostly eating mookata and Thai zichar. I think that was their supper while we looked for decent food for bfast. Haha. 

We made a 7.30am booking at the same Thai Star Empire massage place. Daddy Lim and I had foot massage while Zaky happily went for his full body massage. Bcos we had plenty of time, we opted for 1.5 hrs massage. Zaky had zero objections. lol. Daddy Lim was very happy to see the big comfy couch and declared that it was nap time, to try to sleep over his hangover.

The massages were good and perfect time for us to head to Southkey for Zaky’s hair appointment. Before the trip, I had whatsapped several salon for an appointment. When somebody responded, I would quickly tell them that this is my son’s current hair. 

More importantly, he wanted to be like this.

Or this or this. Haha.

One of the salons commented that his hair is too short. Zaky had been trying to keep his hair. In the last week of school, his teacher had complained a few times that his hair was too long and he tahan until…

In the end, we selected Aveda @96 Hair Studio bcos they responded and seem confident to do a perm for him. We made an appointment for 10am and they were so specific in giving directions to the salon. 

We arrived at Southkey at about 9.30am and despite the mall opening only at 10am, several eating places were already operating. We took a second bfast in case Zaky needs to sit 4 hours at the salon and missed lunch. 

We arrived on time for his appointment and there were already other customers. Zaky showed pictures of the style that he wanted. While the perm is doable, the outcome would vary, afterall, everybody’s hair texture (and face!!) is different. We were quoted RM108 for a cut and RM380 for the perm. They asked if we wanted a treatment. Don’t want. Hoho. 

Daddy Lim and I went shopping and came back 30 mins later to this. 

We were told that it would take about 2 hours in all. 

After 1.5 hour, he was like this. Looks like ajuma perm. Hahahahaah. We were told that it would take another hour. We were also coaxed to buy him scalp treatment bcos his dandruff was so bad. That will cost us another RM318. Zzzzzz…

We shopped some more and eventually stopped for a drink. 

We called Zaky, who was still in the process. He looked like he was very angry. Haha. 

I had wanted to buy Famous Amos and the stall was right outside the cafe. There was constantly a Q and I told Daddy Lim to enjoy the drink while I go for the cookies. There were probably 10 customers in front of me but the Q was moving so bloody slowly. The staff had to scoop the cookies from the stand to the measuring scale so many times for 1 order, then slowly shake the cookies into the scale and then use the tong to pick one or two pieces off when she poured in too many. Roaaaarrrr… I am sure she has zero concept of efficiency. As the customers turned black face, she was still there scooping and shaking the cookies into the measuring tray. 

I usually just buy 1 x 300g pack but I bought 2 this time bcos I needed to make my at least 30 mins wait worth. Zaky was done and I was still waiting.

We finally rushed off to meet him and to pay $$. 

This was the 1st look. He looked like he was wearing a wig. lol. His new look definitely took some time to get used to. 

His entire hair package cost about S$250. It would still cost much lesser than if he had done exactly the same in Sgp. I told him that this is his bday present. 

We had lunch at Kenny Rogers. The standard had gone down so much and the side selection is now so limited. Throughout lunch, Zaky couldn’t stop touching his hair. He said that the curls would settle in a few days.

I thought the curls at the back of his head looks good and asked him to consider walking backwards. Hoho. 

We rushed off after lunch. It was closed to 3pm when we finally made it out of the car park. Southkey was so crowded in the afternoon. 

The traffic was starting to build up at the immigration with a 50 to 80 mins wait at Woodlands. We decided to go via 2nd link but silly google map insisted that we should take the Woodlands checkpoint to head to 2nd link from Sgp. Zzzzz.. We had to bluff Google map by going to Bukit Indah, which is near to 2nd Link, before Google map agreed to finally give us the direction to 2nd Link. 

The immigration took about an hour. By then, Woodlands checkpoint estimated clearing time had increased to 80 - 120 mins. My butt was aching when we finally made it back to Singapore. Just then, we heard on the radio reporting about long custom clearing time and advised checking the wait time before attempting to cross the bridge. Phew. Heng ah. 

This JB trip was solely for Zaky’s hair. It was so tiring and I only wanted to nuah away my remaining weekend. 

Mummy Lim