Before and After

It was a freaking hot Saturday late afternoon and we decided to hop to WCP for the kids to run around. The parents  then, simply chose a good shaded area to relax. Just then, Daddy Lim remembered a FB memory picture that was taken right there.

We wanted to re-enact but I could obviously no longer carry the boy the same way. No way! This is the best that we could do. Lol.

His waist was so tiny then! Daddy Lim kept telling me to peep from his side's properly but the truth is I can't bcos he blocks so much of me. Lol.

On Sunday afternoon, we met up with my uni camp mates. We once planned a camp together and the friendship had been since. It had been years since we last met up but conversations were warm, just like yesterdays.

We promised to meet up again "soon". Zaky found new Fortnight playmate and is already asking when we would be visiting again.

The same weekend, I finally pulled out the 1,000 pieces jigsaw puzzle that had been collecting dust. Lil Shauna had requested for the puzzle but the pieces had been sitting for weeks in my room and she pretended not to see it each time she walked into my room.

The starting is always the toughest and least interesting - finding the right pieces to start, sorting through the colors.

This was the 2nd day. Last night, we were already more that 50% completed. I love jigsaw puzzles, the sense of achievement when you find that right piece.

Mummy Lim

TKD Grading Test: 2nd Poom

It had been a long journey. Zaky started learning TKD in June 2015, when he was barely 5YO.

My guess is that his TKD center is largely commercialised; they were quick to push for grading tests that took place once every 3 months. As a result, Zaky had been progressing very quickly, changing belts as he navigated through the series of grading test.

He hadn't been too bad and passed almost all his grading test in 1 try except for his Junior Black Belt (JBB) where he was given a provisional pass in his 1st attempt and a full pass in his 2nd. That was in September 2018. He also partipated in 2 antagonising sparring competitions that comprise of many extra practices and a lot of waiting during the actual day.

Zaky was given an option on how he would like to progress for TKD after his JBB. He wavered for quite some time before deciding that he would continue to try for his pom. Yes, apparently attaining the JBB is the start of another long series of Black Belt grading system.

He roughed it out for another year since attaining his JBB. In this one year, there had been a couple of internal grading tests to make sure that these JBBs are on track. The time has finally come for his official grading test. We last minute squeezed in extra lessons and sparring lessons; we were told that the tester for the coming grading test is known to be strict.

The grading test took place on Sunday; a routine that we were all too familiar with. The students were made to practice their patterns.

While the Master was watching over him, I took a shot of the identification card in her hand. This was Zaky when he 1st took his 1st grading test! So adorable! We have come a long way.

It was long before he was ushered into the exam hall. I guessed not many kids stayed on after their JBB and there was no big numbers being tested.

It didn't take him long to complete the grading test as well. He came out all smiley and said that he thinks he passed the test by a mark bcos he saw the tester wrote a '6' and the test is usually out of 10. Chey, so happy over a borderline pass.

He was one of the last few students to take the grading test. While he went off to change, Master Kim (the center owner) came to talk to the parents, me included. He told me that Zaky did really well and remembered all his steps. He thinks that Zaky should have passed but nothing is official until the results are out. In my mind, I was thinking 'did really well' = 6/10 marks; it can't be that well. Haha.

I related the conversation with Master Kim  to Zaky in the car. That was when Lil Shauna asked if he had '9' marks instead of '6'. "Oh ya! It was a 9 bcos it was opposite!" The boy excitedly exclaimed. Lol.

This could be the last grading test for a long while. Though the boy likes his masters and had loads of fun during most lessons, he has decided that he would take a long break for now. His TKD qualifications are recognised and he could always pick it up when he is older. Again, I was the one who is more 舍不得, asking if he would like to focus on competition or demonstration instead. He rejected me flat.

The kids are allowed 1 CCA each; let's see if the next journey brings him somewhere.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 181: SISA Class No. 2

We had our 2nd SISA hour long class last Wednesday evening. This time, it was at 7.30pm and we could breathe better but it also meant that it was bedtime by the time we were home.

Lil Shauna looks like she is tolerating one-hour class alright. Bcos there was more time, she got to do both jumps and spins.

There were quite some practices on her axle and I thought some of them were quite nice despite still landing on 2 feet. After class, she said that she managed to do 1.5 revolutions a few times but mainly 1.25 rounds. Now, it is to continue working on her revolutions and try to land on one foot. She said that it is a natural instinct to land on both. Ok, change the instinct. :P

The last part of lesson was on her camel spins. Just when I looked at her, she did 3 rounds though her leg was getting lower with each completed round. Well, at least it was good effort.

We are going to keep up with 2 SISA ice next month and see how it goes.

Mummy Lim

Up Up to Mount Faber

The usual Saturday WWF rides are back in place after the long weekend disruptions. The routine is for somebody to volunteer as the ride leader, planned for the route and viola!

The chat was alive with discussion and the ride leader suggested to Labrador Park and back. That is an old route and worked out to be about 30km. I suggested a little further, perhaps to Seah Im. Then I got busy with work.

The next moment when I checked the thread, the group had enthusiastically took my suggestion but it was more than what I had bargained for - climb Mount Faber (MF). Zzzzzz.

I am never much of a climber; I am just a leisure rider. Lol. In the rare few occasions that the rides included MF, I always choose to wait out at the bottom. I remembered how tedious it was when we hiked up MF, I cannot imagine having to cycle up. Well, I was mentally prepared to push my bike this time if need be.

We had a break point before we started climbing MF so that the 1st timers (Daddy Lim and I and 2 other riders) could have a briefing. The advice was to go slow and steady. We were assured that it isn't that bad. There were hoards of other cyclists climbing MF as well.

With that, we started our slow ascend. Seriously, I couldn't go any faster even if I wished to. My eyes were focused on the cyclist in front or the road. I didn't know how much longer there was but realised that MF really isn't as bad as I imagined it to be. Steep sections were followed by short spans of flatter road, allowing me to catch my breathe before I meet another climb.

After several alternating climbs and flats, we finally made it to the top! I didn't stop to push my bike! Hohoho. The sense of achievement was overwhelming but I was quick to reject the ride leader's suggestion for another loop. Yes, cyclists looped MF like it was just another leisure ride.

We took pictures to commemorate our 1st MF ride and then took the exhilarating downhill back to the meeting point. I survived! It was the downhill ride that I had the luxury to look at MF surrounding.

As the group was small(er than usual), we moved faster for the return leg.

Woohoo! We conquered MF! We were also told that MF is more challenging than Pepys and I couldn't do Pepys the last time. I hope that means that I am a stronger cyclist now. Hohoho.

On Sunday morning, Daddy Lim decided to go for his long forgotten trail. Interestingly, the boy enthusiastically followed him even when it meant waking up at 6am. I heard that they went for bfast before hitting the trail. That was an excellent choice given how whinny Zaky can be when he is hungry.

The boys returned at 9ish and Zaky was excitedly relating his 1st encounter with a wild boar who ran across his path. Fortunately, it wasn't interested in them.

It had been a long while since Daddy Lim had gone on a trail and even longer with Zaky tagging along. Zaky absolutely enjoyed the experience. Daddy Lim also agreed that he now handles his bike better. There were a couple of near misses but no visible injury. Yay!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 180: Sweet SISA

After much struggle with the crowded 1/3 ice, we finally gave up and started with SISA ice for lessons. As agreed with Coach Raymond, we would start with 2x a month and alternate with the usual Saturday class, just in case Lil Shauna cannot survive the hour long lesson.

The lesson was at 6.15pm and I totally mis-remembered the dates; I tot it was the next day. Ended up, I had to rush home to collect the skates while Daddy Lim pick the kids from student care and head down to JCube. There I was in my slippers, lugging the Zuka and the tabaoed home-cooked dinner bcos I forgot to tell Popo not to cook. I was more auntie than auntie, pouring sweat, messy hair in the humid evening heat.

We made it just in time for the class but 6.15pm lesson proved to be too much of a rush. The next one will be at 7.30pm. Let's see how it goes.

Lil Shauna survived the hour long lesson alright.

She was indeed exhausted at the end of the lesson but survived alright. Coach Raymond jokingly said that we shouldn't go holidays anymore bcos Lil Shauna always take time to get back to tune after a holiday. Hohoho. Nevertheless, Lil Shauna totally enjoyed the SISA ice lesson. In fact, she was looking forward to it. There was plenty of space to go around; there were no skating-right-into-her-path small people. Tired but loving it.

Mummy Lim

Strava 54km Challenge Part 2

It is the last weekend of the Strava challenge and the kids must chock their remaining 27ish km to complete the 54km challenge. The kids can't ride far and I am bored of the usual PCN so I suggested that we drive to downtown somewhere to explore the other parts of Singapore.

That is a big project - we had to lug the 30kg bike rack, remove one wheel of 2 of the bikes to squeeze them into the boot and mount the remaining 2 bikes on the bike rack. That itself is a workout already.

To avoid the sun, we needed to start as early as possible. The alarm went off at 5.30am for the preparations. By the time we got out of the house, it was almost an hour later. We literally had to lug the kids off the bed bcos the kids had been maximising the long weekend late nights and were barely able to open their eyes.

As predicted, the moving of bikes was indeed a workout for Daddy Lim. He was perspiring away when he finally managed to load the bikes into the car.

We then decided that we would drive to Alexander and ride the PCN towards Merlion. Zaky continued to catch up on lost sleep on the way. Lol.

The start wasn't smooth. Daddy Lim took a while to fix up Zaky's bike. The front brake was in contact with the front wheel and we didn't bring the right tool. Fortunately the issue was resolved else you can imagine the already slowest rider riding with resistance from the brake.

The sky was already bright when we finally started the ride. We headed down to Marina Square and then to Clarke Quay.

The change from the usual scenery was refreshing for me but not as much for the kids, who were more focused about completing the challenge. That inevitably took away some of the joy of cycling. I think if it was not for the challenge, they probably would have preferred sleeping in at home. Lol.

We rode all the way to Kallang and found bfast at BK. We were still short of the min 27km needed so Daddy Lim led us to ECP before turning back.

By then, Zaky was riding so, so slowly; any slower and I might fall off my bike. Lol.

The sun started working hard on our way back. I was hoping for a 2nd break at some coffee places along Riverside but we didn't find one that had an empty table. Ended up, I kept dreaming about drinking some chocolate milkshake and eating some brownie with ice cream on the way back to the car. Lol.

While there isn't milkshake or ice cream, there was at least Starbucks. Yay! We stopped for ice mocha and ice chocolate complete with muffin before heading back to the car.

Total distant clocked? 40km! Yay! That marked the end of our Strava 54km challenge. What's next? I duno. The challenge officially ends on 17 Aug 19. Daddy Lim says that the kids now have to wait for Strava to email them.

Did anybody fell during the ride? Of course! Zaky fell once jialat, jialat and had a couple of near misses. He continued to be a danger to himself and the people around him. Lil Shauna fell into the bushes twice when she stopped and couldn't balance. Zzzzz. While she didn't hurt herself, she did kill some poor innocent bushes. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Long Weekend Getaway Austin Heights Day 3 and 4

Despite the late night, I was up at 7ish and got to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee and some reads before the house was alive. It was the same time that I realised that my arms and shoulder blades were aching - I had a good workout at the Adventure Park. Haha.

We lazed in the house after a quick bfast of the usual ham, eggs and instant noodles. We probably could laze around forever with WiFi until somebody yelled that we should move. It was a repeat if what we had done the days before - Rocky Basecamp. The kids could do that over and over again.

This time, they managed to get Daddy Lim to join them. My muscles were still screaming and so were the kids but they just don't care. They are strong lah.

Not bad wor. Daddy Lim managed to scale the tall wall.

The Spidey kids were way ahead of him.

He came down and exclaimed how tiring it was. Hohoho. I doubt he would survive long.

The kids just kept going and going. From wall to boulders and then more walls.

By the end of the 2 hours, they were finally exhausted. I had wanted to catch a movie - the tickets were at RM10.50! How cheap is that?! Unfortunately, there wasnt any good shows screening.

We headed back to the Airbnb after lunch. Lunch was at Kenny Rogers and I was craving for it as the chain had moved out of Singapore some time back. If there is anything  that  can be trained in Malaysia, it must be patience. We waited more than half an hour for the food and the restaurant wasn't even crowded. All cravings were long gone by the time food was served. Zzzz.

The rest of the late afternoon was spent chilling in the airbnb. It was too hot to go anywhere. We got out at almost 7pm for VR only to realise that it was fully booked for the rest of the day. By the, the drift cart and jump street were long closed too.

Plan B was karaoke and we managed to find one with an immediate room for RM100ish for a 2-hour slot.

Dinner was finger food at the karaoke joint. Singing for 2 hours seems like a long time but in reality, 2 hours gone by in a wink and we could still go on. 

We ended the night with street side lok lok. We must be so brave. Fortunately, nobody came down with anything.

Last but not least, durians again wrapped up the night. This time, we got 2 durians instead. Hohoho. They were so good!

It was again another late night. The next morning, we only had time for a quick bfast before we made our way home, hoping to avoid the custom jam. The kids also helpfully finished the cakes that we baked on the 1st day.

With that, it marked the end of our quick getaway.

GPS directed us to the 1st link. While there was no jam at the Malaysia side; it was super slow moving at the Singapore side.

Probably to cope with the influx of cars, we were directed to the lanes usually meant for delivery lorries. The cars barely moved. It took us 1 hour just to clear just the immigration building. Nevertheless, we survive and home sweet home.

Mummy Lim

Long Weekend Getaway Austin Heights Day 2

What I like about Airbnb is the availability of the kitchen (usually) and therefore the making of simple bfast.

It had been a long while since I had the opportunity to sleep in and that was exactly what I wanted to do. I refused to wake up until I was giddy with sleep. Hohoho.

By then, I was the only one in bed and Daddy Lim had orchestrated the making of bfast with the kids.

Then it was homework time while I caught up with work.

Zaky completed his one and only homework. Lil Shauna had lugged like her whole school bag to the holiday but was constantly lamenting about the need to go homework whilst on holiday. Of course the homework was not completed. That was also the only time during the holiday that she attempted her homework. Then the books were strewed everywhere around the Airbnb and not touched until the day we packed to go home. For show only.

The 1st stop of the day was the Love Fun Baking - our usual hunt whenever we come to Austin Heights. It is much fun and cheap and we get to mess up somebody else's kitchen. Hoho.

We were the 1st customers. In fact, we were so early that we had to wait for the boss to get ready. While waiting, we witnessed the opening of the new Thai restaurant and there was firecrackers! Like the kids, it was my 1st time seeing firecrackers in life.

Again, we are pros already. Lil Shauna opted for the popsicle cake, Zaky did the lava cake and I wanted to bake and eat butter cookies. Daddy Lim was the free man to help whenever needed.

Daddy Lim took this picture of me. Total perfect housewife look. I think maybe it is a calling.

My butter cookies were the easiest and my dough was soon done requiring 30 mins of refrigeration.

Leaving me time to help the kids and washing up. Yes, we needed to wash up the stuff that we used but it was alright. I also  went around taking pictures.

There wasn't much waiting actually bcos we went around helping one another. While the kids were waiting for their product to be baked/ refrigerated, my dough was ready to be cut and everybody wanted to do that.

Soon, Lil Shauna's cake was ready, cooling down and waiting to do decorated.

The finished products. Yum, yum.

A family pic before we made our way to the next stop.

The kids, particularly Zaky had been bugging to do the drift cart.

So they got to go round and round and round the circuit for 20 mins at RM40 each. Daddy Lim and I happily relax one corner. We also took the opportunity to check that Zaky is tall enough for the Adventure Park, requiring a minimum height of 140cm. He barely make the mark. I had wanted to do the Adventure Park for a long time to skip the small water park; I was waiting for Zaky to be tall enough and he finally is!

It was too hot to be running around in the outdoor and we headed back for a rest before the last Adventure Park session at 5pm. We also found this new VR place right next to the Airbnb and the kids bugged no end to try. We had to or risked my head exploding from all the whining.

The VR game was expensive. We paid RM29 each for a game of about 10mins. I opted out fearing that I will puke my way through the game; I get motion sickness easily from these VR stuff. Daddy Lim and the kids ended up shooting dinosaurs. It was good fun watching them. This was Lil Shauna's screen and I saw her killed by dinosaur so many times. Lol.

The kids were all praises for the VR and asked to come back before we even stepped out of the shop.

It was 5pm when we were back at the Adventure Park. Daddy Lim opted to chill while I attempted the adventure with the kids.

We were told that there were all together 7 circuits - 4 indoors and 3 outdoors.

The indoor one made us go round and round, each round higher than the previous. There were together 3 levels; not sure how that added up to 4 circuits. Anyway, the obstacles were about the same that 2/3 through, I was actually quite bored. Zaky waited for me most of the time, Lil Shauna was way ahead throughout. Zzzzz.

The outdoor circuits were a long more interesting. The 1st one was a Tazan swing, begining with somewhat like a free fall - I hate free fall. The kids handled the Tazan swing like a champ and said that fear was written all over my face. Lol. I survived and conquered that anyway. The kids loved it but I hated the free fall and midway jerk when the rope tightened.

The outdoor circuits were a lot more physically challenging. By the end of the adventure, I was exhausted. That largely marked the end of our 2nd day in Austin Height, completed with dinner and DURIANS!

Lil Shauna loves durians too. Zaky isn't adverse to the smell but doesnt fancy them. The durians were so good. We got 1 durian at about 1.9kg for RM50ish. It was 1kg at RM28 and so much better than the ones we had in Singapore. So, so good.

With durian breath, we headed for bed. Hoho.

Mummy Lim