Ice Skating 200: Music and Axel

Lil Shauna has learnt her competition routine about 2 weeks back. It basically means that she remembers the footwork and when to do her jumps and spins. However, doing them with music is a totally different business.

For the very 1st time, she got to do her routine with music on SISA ice last Wednesday. Her 1st attempt saw her chasing after the music. It got *slightly* better in subsequent attempts but she was far from ready. This time, she is skating to Despocito volin cover, which is unlike the pop songs that she is used to in the past. It basically needed her to be graceful and expressive, something that she totally cannot relate to. Drama lah, drama.

While she was mega proud that she had managed her routine, I was less than pleased. This resulted in an argument on the way home. She thought that I was criticising her and not recognizing her efforts and was defensive to all that I said. I ended up repeating the same thing and got more agitated as I speak bcos I didn't know if she was listening. Anyway, she heard and we spent time in the following week working on trying to look grateful and then trying them out on Saturday ice. 

On Saturday ice, we also spent time on her camel and broken leg spins and her Axel jumps. It had been too long, stale already. She would never be able to land her Axel if she doesn't correct landing on the correct leg.

She surprised me. Apparently, she had been watching some youtubes to try to nail the Axel. She attempted mini jumps and successfully landed on the correct leg. Yay! Finally! Then moved on to try to do her Axel. There was one or 2 that Coach caught and said that it wasn't too bad, just slightly short of the 1.5 revolutions required. 

Last Wednesday, we were back on SISA ice. Lil Shauna got to try her program with music. Our hard work pretending to be drama paid off and her 1st attempt was so much better than the previous week. She got tired and the subsequent attempts were less ideal. There are still a lot to be done to try to pretend to be graceful.

She did her program a couple of times and as she got more tired, it became less ideal. I thought Coach was trying to murder her. Lol. Then they went on to work on her Axel with the remaining time.

The 1st few ones look quite decent although she landed each one on her butt eventually. At least it was the correct landing leg. 

Daddy Lim was with me and was so appalled that his little girl was falling left, right and center. This one small case; I had seen her falling much more badly, which is also why she is always so resistant in practicing Axel. Pain lah.

After a few tries, she finally got what looked like an Axel! I can't tell actually but she landed on one foot and it looked that she had finally nailed it!

At the end of the lesson, Coach confirmed that she had indeed nailed 2 or 3 Axel jumps. Hohoho. Most of them had the required 1.5 revolutions but only a few saw her landing properly.

Lil Shauna was mega pleased and so was I. We finally moved on! She even asked me to blog about the achievement and couldn't wait to post on IG.

We will be back on the ice to practice her Axel on Saturday. I really, really hope that she doesn't lose it. Fingers and toes crossed.

Mummy Lim

More and More Expensive Bats

Don't worry, the post isn't about real bats. I am talking about the the 2 going-to-be-blind mice at home.

In July last year, we started the kids on the Crizal myopia control lenses bcos their myopia is progressing too rapidly. The lenses are seriously expensive and cost $360 per pair. Now, let the pain hit 2x. We would told that the lenses would help to slow down/ control myopic if used properly. Generally, the users have to use the center of the lenses to look farway and the outer part of the lenses to look near distant. The lenses are designed in such a way that the outer part has a lower degree power and therefore less stressful on the eyes.

Though it had been statistically proven that the lenses control myopic progression, we were still advised to bring the kids back for review in 6 months' time.

We brought the kids back for checks in December. Did the lenses help? Haiz. Lil Shauna's right eye remained at 175 but her left went up by 50 to 400... Blind already or not. Zaky is worse. His right went up by 50 to 225 and his left increased by 25 to 200. No wonder he had complained that his vision has blurred despite the glasses.

The optician then introduced the lastest myopia controlled lenses by Hoya. The Hoya lenses can control myopic up to 65% of the cases and it is designed such that there isn't a need for specific usage. Anyhow see also can.

Whether the Hoya lenses are as good as promoted is a question mark. What remains true is that new and supposedly "better" products always come with a price tag. Ouch. We were quoted $470 per pair if we buy 2 pairs.

I hestitated big time. Maybe we should use back the Crizal lenses or we could delay the change. Maybe I should just let the kids be legi blind bats.....

We didn't go back to the optical shop until last Sunday. I was thrilled to find out that my new company medical insurance includes a $400 Wellness claim per family member. Hoya lenses, here we come.

I didn't know that the degree can go down as well. Lil Shauna was eventually at R 200 and L 375. While not ideal, her progression appeared a lot more well controlled. Zaky is at R 250 and L 225. His eyes deteriorated more from December. Roaaarrr...

The Hoya lenses can take up to 6 weeks to be ready. Meanwhile, the kids were given a free pair of single vision lenses. We used the kids' old frames for the new lenses. Yes, we have so many pair of glasses lying around at home.

Mummy Lim

New Wheels!

Whether is it the car or bike, it is the same to the men- the constant pursue of upgrading - to go faster, even if it is for that few seconds. I had always thought that we had good bikes or at least good enough bikes. They are not cheap afterall.

Just like most of the cars that we had and that I was happy with them, I am happy with my bike. On the other hand, Daddy Lim never stop exploring how the bikes can be improved.

He had been looking at aero-wheels for a while, dropping hints that we should change to them one day. That "day" finally came and he put up a convincing speech, including how we should change to aero-wheels at the same time and he will use the extra cash from his bonus to buy them as some gifts to us.

He caught me when I was off guard. The moment I nodded my head, he went into a super efficient mode and ordered the wheels online, arranging for delivery and fix up and all. His efficiency was impressive.

I didn't have to do anything. One day last week, he told me that the wheels had finally arrived. He then arranged for the bikes to be sent to be fixed and everything was ready for the usual Saturday WWF ride. Woohoo!

Yes, my pink bar tape is up and it totally matches my pink gloves. Hoho.

He picked the bikes up on Friday and then picked me up from the office. He was very excited about them and enthusiastically snapped a pic of me with the bike despite the fact that I was lugging a recycle bag and looking totally auntie.

We rode the bikes with the new wheels on Saturday to NTU. I can only tell that we have very noisy hubs that attracted a lot of attention. Everybody now know that we have upgraded the wheels bcos they are so noisy.

We climbed NTU with them! My very 1st NTU ride and I survived. Did it feel like the wheels helped? Actually I am not sure; I only know that they are very loud. Hoho.

This morning, we went LP1 on them and we went faster than usual on the last stretch. We were very happy and thought that the wheels are doing their job and it is a good investment! However, there was crazy headwind on the way back, which meant that it may not be the wheels but the tailwind afterall. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Basketball Again

Zaky got to attend basketball at mummy's escort on Sunday morning. Jiejie was working hard at home, trying to clear the mountainous amount of homework. I can tell that the teachers are all enthusiastically prepping the kids for PSLE. The kids were obviously not enjoying the teachers' enthusiasm.

I rarely get to send Zaky for basketball now and the boy obviously enjoys the rare occasions. I don't get it actually; I do nothing but sit at the side to look at him. That is easy job. Haha.

The running around is definitely doing him well.

I thought his ball handling and ball sense had improved a fair bit from the last season. Every now and then, he ran back to me for his water breaks and he was pouring sweat. The humid hall further aids the detoxification.

Zaky was a happy boy bcos mummy watched him for his session. I was a happy mummy bcos the boy is happy and jiejie finally finished her homework. Such little joys in life.

On the way home, the boy told us that he perspired so much, that he could style his hair. Yucky right? But I had to take pictures of his Stylo Milo hair styled in sweat. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Almost Gone Memory

We got the external hard disk many years back. In the hard disk that we barely used a fraction of its space, are precious pictures since the day the kids met the world and important documents that we accumulated over the years. 

A long time back, I used to backup the pictures via CD-rom but gave up after a while. Who still uses CD-rom? I don't even know if laptops still come with the reader. Anyway, I stopped backing up and rely solely on that faithful external hard disk. 

Recently, I was just thinking that I should back it up, especially after I was promoted of an error with the disk that fortunately "repaired itself". But, I procrastinated. Sob. 

Then one day, the laptop can no longer read the hard disk... I googled and saw that recovery of data can cost hundreds and even thousands. I died. I should have... If only....

We found a computer shop in JW and sent the sick hard disk in for some inpatient care, paying $30 for diagnostic fees. We were told that it would cost $299 if it can be fixed by the shop. The price doubles if more expertise is required and double somemore if divine help is needed. There is also no guarantee that the full data or any data can be recovered even with divine help. 

Fortunately, our sick hard disk wasnt that sick and could be fixed at the shop. It took a week and we were told to collect it, costing us $299. We were told that up to 98% of the data was recovered and asked us to check when we were at the shop to collect it. 

How to check? There were like thousands of pictures and other files. Lol. I was just happy to have what looked like most of the data back. It was totally worth to spend $299 on almost 12 years of memory. Speaking of which, I should buy another hard disk for backup. I is mountain tortoise and am so surprised that hard disks now come in TB. That sounds like a lot of space to store a lot of pictures. Hehe. 

By the way, this is the computer shop. I is happy. 

Mummy Lim

Not One but Two Goodbyes

Good time passes so quickly. In a wink of eye, 3 weeks flew by and it was time for ah yee and Athena to say goodbye. Their flight was on Thursday night and Ah Yee took a taxi to the airport with the baby and all her big and small bags.

Daddy Lim had to work late and was just in time to say goodbye and take picture with his favourite little person.

Ah Yee lamented that she hadnt summoned enough courage even at the last moment before boarding the taxi. I understand; I am even scare to fly alone with 2 big kids.

Athena had a 20 mins nap in the taxi and was a bouncy bunny at the airport.

They of course made it safe and sound back to France.

But ah yee told me that it was an ordeal and she had horror stories to share. Then, it was back to battling jetlag with a toddler. Not fun.

Things were different for us too. The 1st different is that I got my bed space back. Hohoho. It doesn't matter if I get to sleep on the bed or mattress but I get my 1 man's space back and I can turn to ease my back/ neck/ arm pain in the night! It is a happy different.

We all looked forward to see the little angel before we head for school/ work on weekday mornings. She is one early bird.

On Friday, that was missing. The kids didn't have a little girl to say goodbye to. I didn't have one who would happily explore my cosmetic and lotion in the mbr while I get ready for work.

We all missed Athena calling out for "Isaac" as if he is her best friend. His name was the only one that she had mastered and she went "Isaac", "Isaac", "Isaac", the whole 3 weeks. Or somebody who is so enthusiastic about going gaigai, even if it was to JP to buy bread and would fight to press all the buttons - like literally all the buttons in the lift. I did feel a little bad for the next person who went into the lift.

Ah Yee said that the next visit will take a while bcos Athena would have turned 2 and had to pay a child's price fare. I wonder if she would still remember us or to call out her "favorite Isaac" or still jam to the many silly tunes with the kids.

Fortunately for technology; far is no longer too far away.

The same weekend, we had to say goodbye to another family who is super closed to our heart - the Chan Family. As I write, they had just settled into their Airbnb 13 hours by flight away - the moo moo cow place. Uncle C had found an opportunity in NZ and the Chan Family had embarked on their new family adventure for perhaps a year or maybe 2 or even forever. Sob.

The kids will definitely miss each other. We had afterall spent so many countless weekends and holidays together. They had  known each other since birth! We tried to spend as much time as possible before their departure but even a lot is not enough. The ladies got together for a quiet dinner in their last week in Singapore.

They had already planned to visit home in July. We will definitely miss them loads. No more impromptu weekend dates. Sob.

Goodbyes are so hard.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 197: Start!

We made a huge realisation last weekend - Lil Shauna hadnt been crossing her leg the right way during her axle jump. Coupled with not landing straight, she ended up landing on the wrong foot 1st every single axle jump. We missed this bcos my oppo phone camera no longer allowed me to slowly scroll through the video, a crucial function in helping to identify and rectify her skating mistakes. We only spotted it when I downloaded an app to do so. No wonder Coach Raymond had been telling her to close her legs (sounded so crude) for the longest time.

We had been trying to rectify the leg crossing thing for the last few ice sessions. It didn't work. Lil Shauna said that she cannot feel her legs. Win already. Not like I am a Goblin and can slow down time to help her cross her leg when she is in the air. She had to find her own way to slowly rectify what. Faint.

Lil Shauna had decided to go for the preliminary competition in April. While it is her PSLE year, I don't think she will spend the time off the ice on her academic work anyway. She eventually selected 3 songs for Coach to pick one and her poor mother laboriously edited the song to fit the required 1min30sec, +/- 10 sec. I is good with this song editing stuff already.

Coach started on her program y'day. It was up 3/4 of the rink and down all the way. That took the entire 30 mins lesson.

I helped her to video for her to refer back if need be. I am sure she needed to be much faster bcos it took like 45 secs for her to go up and down the rink.  I dont think half the program is made up of only those.

She came back from lesson, exclaiming how difficult it was. The steps do look much difficult as compared to her last one, turn here, then turn there. Oh my 天!

She stayed on slightly after class to practice the just learnt steps. She already forgot half of it. Die 了. We went on to practice her axle jumps. Still cannot leh and she ended up falling left, right and center. Haiz.

To make sure that she has time to practice, I have booked weekly SISA ice for the remaining February. I hope there is enough time. Fighting!

Mummy Lim

ActiveSG Basketball Season 2

When the 2019 ActiveSG Basketball season ended, Zaky was opened to signing on the next season. I was definitely 200x more enthusiastic than him. For $130, he gets to run around and sweat it out for up to 3x a week over a duration of 10 weeks. This kind of good deal where to find?

The better news came when I signed up online - due to the CCK Sports Complex renovation, the new season will be held in JW Sports Complex. That is so much nearer and convenient. Can you see me grinning? Hehehe. Unlike the CCK Sports Hall that is not near to any MRT station, the JW one is one MRT stop away.

The sessions continued to be on Wednesday evenings and the weekends morning. The later Wednesdays' timing works to our advantage. I used to have to take time off and rushed like I was chased by ghosts to send him for the Wednesday lessons.

His basketball sessions had been ongoing for a few weeks. This far, I haven't managed to send him for any. We didn't make it for any of the Wednesday classes despite the later timings; life had simply been too busy. On Saturday mornings, I will be at the rink with Lil Shauna, leaving Daddy Lim to drive the boy. On Sundays, it clashes with church.

Finally, I had the opportunity yday when we missed church bcos Lil Shauna had to catch up on school work. The boy was reluctant to move but decided to give it a go when he knew that mummy was bringing him. Mummy Power!

The class was small, not only in strength but also in size. Zaky said that there are sometimes more people. It was for 8 to 10 YOs and according to size, there must be a lot more 8YOs. Zaky is gigantic in comparison.

The session was mainly drills. He came back for water break each time pouring sweat. Good, good. He needed the exercise. Hoho. The drills were still interesting bcos the coaches introduced them in the form of games/ contests and there were plenty of cheering.

In the last 30 mins, they were split into 3 teams for matches. Apparently, it was the 1st time that matches were introduced this session. Suddenly, Zaky become one of the pros. There were so many of them crowding around the poor soul holding the ball and they were doing that catch ball pass ball stunt. Hey, isn't that what Zaky used to do? Haha. Zaky was definitely able to demonstrate his improved court sense and ball handling in that pool of disorganised little people.

Well, he definitely had a good time and I loved it that he had a good workout. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Huat ah! Busy CNY 2020 Part 2

After a late night and a long hard ride, the last thing that I wanted is to wake up early. The kids were merciful enough to allow us to sleep until 9am before Zaky pounced on us declaring that it was time to wake up for bfast.

I had thought that bfast was waiting. Bo leh. The kids had finished everything that Popo made. Chey. Wake us up for what? But that gave Daddy Lim and I the perfect reason to have bfast alone. Hohoho.

We had no program for the day until the late afternoon. While having a peaceful bfast, Ah Yee texted that Zaky had been on his gadget for the entire morning. That is what the kids do when there is nothing to occupy them. So, we baked cookies! We are getting so good at it.

Usually, Zaky will chicken out after a while, going back to his gadget. This time, I made him baked to the end. Towards the end, he was messing up more than helping. Zzzzzz. But we got the cookies done alright.

The Chan Family opened up their house for CNY visitation. Ah Yee and Athena had no program and tagged along. I was very surprised that we can all fit into their place. Not that their place is small but we are all very big now.

Auntie H cleverly "distributed" the small people - the bigger kids took the children's room, the pre-schoolers took the master bedroom, the littlest were on the playmat in the living room.

The bigger kids were happily playing board games and nerds, under Auntie T's watchful guidance.

The adults were the cleverest, sitting around the table where the CNY goodies were and out of the kids' way.

Athena looked like she had a good time too.

There were really so many kids.

Auntie S was trying to get a picture with Athena and finally got a really good one with Lil Shauna's help.

We left at 9pm; the baby needed her sleep. It was way past her bedtime.

Daddy Lim had the go back to work on 初四. I didn't and unfortunately the kids had no school too. Haha. I would have loved spending the day on my own. We ended up dating the Fs to Science Center but no before a delicious lunch at Oppo BBQ.

The kids always managed to self entertain at the Science Center. There was an exhibition on poo poo and Athena was obviously very happy with the toilet bowl brush. Haha.

We wanted to visit the waterworks playground but the kids were barely 5 mins in before the park was closed due to bad weather.

The kids had a fun; I had tired legs. Haha. We ended off with dinner and arcade before finally heading home.

Disclaimer: no baby was harmed in the making.

With that, it marked the end of the long CNY weekend. Huat ah!

Mummy Lim