Valentine's Day and CNY

There are so many fb jokes about Valentine's Day celebrations (or lack of) with increasing years of courtship/ marriage. I can vouch for that bcos Daddy Lim was working so super late on Valentine's Day. I was hoping to have a lomantic ice cream date with him. Well, the ice cream date still took place; the Valentines are different.

My dates were enjoying the ice cream alot more than Daddy Lim and I would have. Haha.

I didnt have to work on CNY eve while the kids had to go to school for 3 hours. They were in good enough mood to pose so nicely for me before the usual bickering started.

Daddy Lim had to work late but that didnt stop our reunion lunch at my brother's place. At least my thoughts were with him while I was tucking in to the delicious steamboat spread.

He came only in the late afternoon and ferried us to round 2 at his aunt's place. It was another round of yummy steamboat. Z was there too and the kids had fun playing together. Early morning + plenty of fun + 2 reunion meals proved too much for the kids. They were half dead by the time we left.

Our very strong girl still insisted to sleepover at my brother's place. I heard that the girls stayed up until after midnight. The boy had been pleading to do sleepover too but fell asleep in the car on the way home, which also meant that his "sleepover" was back in our room. Haha. 

It had been a few years since we did CNY visitation. We always took the opportunity to travel. We travelled too this CNY but decided to leave only on Chu Er to avoid the crowd. Lil Shauna and I decided to "twin" this year.

Visitation was a lot quieter than what I remembered it was. We didnt even meet many relatives. The kids still had fun dressing up, collecting ang mos and snacking on all the CNY goodies. 

Lil Shauna enjoyed the breezer as much as I did.

We didnt take a family photo this CNY. However, we had this precious picture of the kids.

Feline and Zaky looked so different. Zaky was so uber cute then. Now, he looks like a big boy. I miss that cute little boy. 

Happy CNY!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 111: Sit Spin and Flip Jump

It had been a while since I am this excited to blog about Lil Shauna's ice skating. She had been so stuck at flip jump and sit spin. Zzzzz. Has it been forever?

Saturday morning's practice didn't turn out well bcos the rink was so crowded. In addition to that, the girl bumped her head on a metal bar the day before and had been whinning non stop about the little bump on her head. Seriously, it wasnt much, I cant even see the bump clearly if I don't look properly. I was reminded of the mega bump that Zaky had a long time back.

Lil Shauna insisted that her bump was bigger than this when she 1st got it. No wonder we need to change her glasses. Ha!

She did the usual stuff before lesson and it was nothing to shout about. Moreover, we missed ice last Sunday bcos of her flu. Lack of practice + stuck = yawning mummy. I didnt even want to expect much. She was still trying unsuccessfully to do her sit spin before Coach Raymond called her for lesson.

I saw her go through the usual footwork practice. Then it was flip jumps after flip jumps. She wasnt able to do the complete round for a lonnnggg time and needed to master that before she can move on. Coach Raymond corrected her posture bit by bit and she FINALLY got it! Woohoo!

Then she moved on to sit spin. The 1st few ones ended with her on her butt. No surprise. Just as I paid some attention to her, she was suddenly doing the SIT SPIN!!!!! She did it, she did it, she did it!

I was so thrilled, more thrilled than she was! I kept looking at her, unable to believe my eyes and grinning from ear to ear. I recorded her sit spin and had been watching the video every now and then, remembering the joy.

After class, I asked her how she did the sit spin and she had no idea. Something just clicked. Her confident boost and she happily went back to the ice for more flip jumps and sit spins after ice resurfacing. Hehehe.

We missed ice again on Sunday bcos we had make up Chinese class; she skipped Chinese on Friday bcos of the bump. Zzzzz... with CNY around the corner, we wouldnt be back on ice until a week later. I hope she still remembers her sit spin and flip jump then. Boo!

Mummy Lim

Maiden Ride with Wheels With Friends

It had been 5 months of just Daddy Lim and I riding. We had found new various routes from time to time and often come across other groups of cyclist. I always wonder how it feels to be part of a cyclist group. Daddy Lim said that he tried once when he still had that expensive road bike. He said that he preferred to be alone then, largely bcos the kids were still young and it was difficult to accommodate to the group's schedule.

I bet there are many cycling groups around. However, most of them are likely to be road bike cyclists and that wouldnt work for us. For the past 5 months, we had been 切 left, right and center by road bike cyclists. There is just no way our humble MTBs could catch up to their crazy speed.

Then, one fine day, while I was doing my motherly duties to help loan some books for the kids at the Jurong West library, I saw a standee advertising about the Wheels With Friends (WWF). The WWF is sponsored by the Pioneer CC. Anything to do with CC gives me a feeling of activities for both young and old. So this riding club shouldnt be too fierce, right? Haha.

We searched for them on FB and found them easily. Our requests to join their FB group was also quickly granted. It was so easy to join them; they even have a whatsapp group opened to keen persons; no permission needed.

There was a crazy list of people on the whatsapp chat but only a few active contributors. Still, we were all advised to mute the chat and had been warned that the conversations can sometimes go 24/7.

Before long, we were informed about this morning's ride. The whole journey was supposed to be about 65km - all the way to Mandai and back. We checked and double checked that they wouldnt go too fast. They confirmed and assured that it was a leisure ride and no rider would be left behind. Their training rides happened on a weekday morning where they will go crazy speed but this one is easy.

The meeting time was set at 6.30am Saturday morning at the JW library entrance. I was so excited that I dreamt that we overslept and missed the event. The dream woke me up and made me crawling off to check the time - 5am. Zzzzzz.

While getting ready, we realised that we could see the 1st rider from our balcony. Ok, not from this pic bcos the rider had just switched off his lights.

Before long, we met up with the group, there were 8 of us, some on road bikes, some hybrids, 1 on a single gear bike (young chap) and us. The oldest member, a 68 YO grandpa was also on this ride, on his hybrid. The coordinator, J, told us that the group is usually small of about 8 to 15 pax. We rode off after a round a quick name introduction.

We took the road: JW Central - Chinese Garden - Lakeside - JE - Spiral Bridge - WCP - Pasir Panjang and down to Labrador park before turning back. The part until WCP was familiar route for us. While it was indeed a "leisure" ride for them, we were "chasing" them most of the time. Lol. I had to use a bigger gear, one that I have never used while on our own. I had it much easier than Daddy Lim, whose trail bike only has limited gears. He was chasing like crazy even whej he had the biggest gear on. Hahaha.

After the U-turn at Labrador, we stopped for bfast! Yeah! That was when the better understanding took place. They shared with us their different rides and the uncle told us how we can ride on PCN from JW all the way to Changi (40km)! Many of the bike enthusiasts were talking about their OCBC experience, most of them not very pleasant though.

We continued the ride back and broke off back at Jurong East while the rest continued their way to Mandai.

In total, we clocked 30km at 19.8km/hr average speed; we have not rode so fast before.

It was a nice 1st experience riding with a group. We would probably join them again.

Strangely, while we pant and huff during the ride, we didnt feel that tired after the ride. I even went for a 3km treadmill after that. Haha. However, for the rest of the day, my legs were jellyish.

Mummy Lim

"Rites of Passage"

Just last week, Zaky asked Daddy Lim to help him gel his hair before school. He is never much of a "gel my hair" boy. We are fine if he wants gel; we have gel and it doesnt take much time.

While helping, Daddy Lim commented that the gel would have worked much better if his hair is wet, like right after a shower. Guessed what? For the whole of this week, the boy had volunteered to take a shower in the morning! He never once done that in P1, opting to sleep in for that extra few minutes.

For the whole week, he had been spotting neatly combed hair at bfast.

Daddy Lim said that it is a phase that almost all boys go through. I suddenly remembered my brother's gel caked hair in primary school. Hehe. Did I mention that Zaky has a new "gf"? He likes this one. The last one who courted him dumped him after a while bcos he was too irritating. Lol. Anyway, he was so eagered to show his nicely gel hair to his gf. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Chinatown

Last CNY, we went to Chinatown with my brother's family. I remembered that it was drizzling and we attempted to walk the crowded streets with umbrellas while avoiding potential umbrella poking injuries from the other patrons. We should be grateful that we didnt lose any kid but we did had grumpy kids who were whinning bcos of the humidity and slimy walkways.

Apparently, humans are forgetful bcos lesson not learnt and we headed back to Chinatown again. Haha. The 1st obstacle was to find a parking lot at the People's Park complex. The car park is soooo narrow such that the cars have to slowly inch past each other to avoid collision.

Chinatown was freaking crowded.

We walked past the Chinatown Heritage Center and the kids tried out some old school games.

They were more like using the chopsticks to lift the beans off. Lol.

Finally, we arrived at where the actions are. We couldnt stop ourselves and had to buy some of these really cute 包.

It didnt take long before we kept them safely in our tummies. Yummy. There were plenty of 小吃 along the way but they are pricey.

Part 2 of Chinatown is about the 年货. We didnt have much to buy actually since we arent expecting guests for CNY but that didnt stop us from window shopping. Many of the vendors were offering samples. Hohoho, I like. It felt very much like one of Taiwan's 老街, where the stall owners dish out samples. Just that Chinatown is probably 200x more crowded. I still like Taiwan better bcos the Taiwanese are so much more generous.

At the end of it, we only bought some peanuts and chocolates but tried many other CNY goodies. Hohoho. We wanted to have dinner at the Chinatown food center. However, it was mission impossible to find a table to fit us all and we agreed to go back to JP to eat in comfort. The crowd was intimidating.

Daddy Lim's driving skill was once again tested while we made our way out of the car park. While doing so, we saw a long q of vehicles entering the car park and wondered if the aged carpark can hold all its weight. We were super glad to have gone to and leave Chinatown early. Daddy Lim said that we wouldnt come back next year or at least we (leave him out) should take the MRT. I think he will forget about the pain by next CNY. Haha.

The kids bought the malt candy and were happily enjoying them on the drive home. Midway, we heard Lil Shauna yelled and she showed us this.

It is her 1st molar! Hahahaha! Her shaky molar had been hurting her for a while. She said that the malt candy was sticking to her teeth and when she yanked it out, so did the molar.

Now we know the malt candy has different uses. However, Zaky tried likewise on his shaky tooth but it didnt work. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Glasses and Dressing Up

Lil Shauna had been complaining about blurred vision despite her glasses that were made about 9 months' back. Just like 9 months ago, I was in denial and refused to bring her to an optician. 

After weeks of complaining, I finally brought her to owndays in JP, where she 1st bought her glasses. The verdict? One eye increased by 75 to 125 and the other increased by 100 to 200. Roarrr... I think it has to do with too much screen time. Popo still "innocently" tried to defend the gadgets and blame the deterioration on her reading too many story books. Win already. 

Fortunately (or unfortunately?), owndays has warranty that protects the need to change lenses within a year. At least the replacement was free and I was glad that I didnt procrastinated until the warranty was over. 

Lil Shauna had been warned to reduce her screen time and protect her eyes but actually dont know how to. She only wears her glasses in school but I am not sure if that is supposed to help or maybe I am doing her more harm. Time for our best friend - Google.  

That same night after we got her glasses fixed, I stopped the kids' gadgets and they were screaming boredom. So I suggested for them to play dress up. So funny!

I thought this looked quite like me.

Until she turned around. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 110: Sick

Sick! That spells it all. The little girl is down with flu and she had been whinning in the morning to skip lesson. It was just a flu but she made it sounded like she needed to be warded. We pushed forth anyway since there was no fever and we already paid for class.

We arrived at about 11am and I told her to take it easy, which she definitely did. Additionally to the "take it easy", she took many breaks in between.

When she finally went into the 1/3 ice, she complained that her right knee hurts when she lands, which meant that she cant jump. Then spinning made her head hurts. Zzzzzzz.

Class was all about footwork and spinning. Hohoho. While she whines to me, she doesnt to Coach Raymond.

Coach Raymond wanted her to go really low on her sit spin so it was back to falling left, right and center. I chose to not look. Coach Raymond also spent some time on her camel spin. I thought that her posture looked funny but Lil Shauna said that Coach Raymond told her that it was better than before and she just needed to work o  lifting her leg higher.

Of course we didnt skate after ice resurfacing bcos the girl was "so sick". Interestingly, the sickness didnt at all affect her appetite. She polished off most of the fish and chips during lunch.

Mummy Lim

Rewarded

HPB must have gotten a lot of fundings from the Government bcos these are what I recieved after signing up the step challenge. 

Ok, I played my part as well. These are equivalent to many 10k of steps over a period of time. Then again, I started clocking steps bcos I wanted to get healthier so these are definitely bonuses. 

It felt fantastic to be rewarded for merely walking. I like. Popo was amazed that people now get vouchers for walking! She asked the kids why she didnt get any when she too walked a lot every day. Haha. Maybe I should create accounts for everybody in the family to earn more vouchers. Hehehe.

Mummy Lim

Swimming 2 @ JW

Last Sunday was lesson 2 at the JW swimming complex. Coach Alex said that the kids probably needed 2 more lessons in prep of the swimming test. The kids were happily relaxing before lesson; obviously ignorant of the hard work ahead. Lol.

We headed down earlier for the kids to go around the lazy river.

Then C joined them and they went for a few more rounds. I had to fish them out of the river when it was time for class.

When Coach Alex arrived, the kids started their 2 laps of front crawl. Lil Shauna said that it is the most difficult stroke for her and I can totally relate to that bcos swimming front crawl is so tiring. She said that Zaky could manage front crawl alright. Nevertheless, I was watching Zaky closely just in case he couldnt manage the full lap and needed help. At times, I thought he looked like he was struggling but he eventually completed the 2 laps fine. I think I was more stress up looking at the kids then the kids themselves. Haha.

The completed 2 laps were followed by 2 laps of back stroke. That should be easy, isnt it? But Lil Shauna said that it was Zaky's worse. I was puzzled; backstroke is so easy, your face is constantly above the water, how difficult can that be as compared to front crawl?

When Zaky started his back stroke, I understood why it was difficult for him. He couldnt tell where he was going and it irritated him when he got water in/ splashing on his nose. While the girls were swimming directly from one end to another, he was going in "zic zac" direction, checking where he was only when he knocked into somebody/ something. At one point, he did a complete U turn and Coach Alex had to go into the pool to steer him to the right course. Lol. Bcos so, the girls had a lot of time to rest while Zaky had used more energy to swim a longer course. Double whammy.

They proceeded on for other items after the 4 laps. I wonder how they would survive to do all 8 in different strokes. Scary.

The rest of the lesson turned out fine. Zaky proudly told me that he easily picked up his goggles that was dropped at the bottom of the 1.8m pool on his 1st attempt. Lil Shauna had to take multiple tries. I thought she couldnt dive, which is strange bcos I seen her dive many times. She later told me that she couldnt "see" where her goggles were when she arrived at the bottom.. oh yes, she is so blind.

Their test is likely to be scheduled on 4 Mar and they have 2 more practices at the big pool before that. Fighting!

Mummy Lim

New Cycling Route

Daddy Lim used to ask me if I was bored of the same PCN cycling route bcos he was. I confidently told him that I wasnt. I spoke too fast bcos after 5 months of cycling (yes, it had been 5 months already), I am indeed sick of the usual routes, which include the usual road rides  in addition to the PCN route.

On Sunday morning, Daddy Lim suggested that we head to WCP but from the opposite direction and take a slightly longer route. It was a great change from the usual scene and I was happily taking in the new scenery. It was mainly on the road with minimal up and down slope, which made it an easy ride. We even clocked a higher than usual average speed.

Before we reached WCP, we came to the Pandan reservoir, which we would have explored the last ride if not for Daddy Lim's spectacular fall. Lol. Given that nobody fell this time, we did so. It was gravel tracks.

Daddy Lim enthusiatically suggested for us to go around the reservoir and surveyed it before bringing the kids the next time. After googling and saw that it was 6.1km, I was gamed to complete the round. However, the gravel path was right next to the drop into the reservoir that has warning sign of "deep waters" all around and my poor mother's heart tells me never to bring the boy here. Lol.

No sweat and we completed the round easily. It was nice and relaxing to be cycling right next to a huge reservoir of water.

We didn't head to WCP after clocking the extra 6km but turned back, taking the road most of the time. Overall, we clocked 30km. On the way back, fatigue started to hit me and my legs felt very jellyish. We made it home nevertheless. Hehe.

Mummy Lim